Teenager admits attempting to murder pensioner

A TEENAGER fled from a school and tried to murder an 85-year-old woman in her Montrose home by repeatedly stabbing her, a court heard.

The boy inflicted multiple wounds on the pensioner with a knife taken from her own kitchen during the attack at her rural cottage.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told the attacker, who also robbed his victim of £80: “You have pled guilty to a truly terrible crime, but you are only 15 years old. “You are a child.”

Lord Richardson deferred sentence on the teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, for the preparation of reports.

Advocate depute Gavin Anderson told the court the teenager was earlier made the subject of a care order by a court in England and placed in the care of an English local authority.

He stayed in care settings before becoming resident at a school in Scotland in 2020, where he was under supervision.

The teenager broke free from a staff member at the Scottish school after stating he was planning to return to England.

On the night of September 15 last year, the victim went into the kitchen at her home, where she found the intruder standing wearing a face covering.

The boy approached his victim, who handed him four £20 notes before telling him he should take the money and leave.

Mr Anderson said the accused then began stabbing the complainer.

The teenager admitted assaulting and attempting to murder the woman, brandishing a knife at her and repeatedly striking her on the body with the weapon to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of her life and robbing her of £80.

His guilty plea was tendered in a courtroom closed to members of the public but in the presence of his mother.

He was told he would continue to be held in his current secure accommodation before a further court appearance in June.