29-year-old sex offender Ryan Yates has been in and out of prison since he was 14. He has a long track record of sexual attack and violence, and authorities are now really scrutinizing how such an obviously threatening man was let out into the world.
“There has to be a review, because this is not the first time that the system has failed. Grampian Police said he was complying with the terms of his order but he was still able to commit this awful offense.”
Conservative MSP John Lamont added: “Time and time again we have said that merely placing somebody on the sex offenders register is not enough.”
Less than a week after being released from prison on October 14 of 2009, Yates attacked a Grandma in Westfield Park in Aberdeen’s Bridge of Don area to try to get to her two grand daughters so he could abduct and rape them. He openly admitted that he was “find some children to have sex with” after being caught. He had walked up to them and pulled a knife on the Grandma, but she was able to disarm him while her 8-year-old grand daughter was able to get away with her 2-year-old sister. She quickly grabbed the bottom of the blade and the top of the blade handle while she kicked at her attacker.
Advocate depute Alan Mackay said: “While walking in the park the younger child asked to come out of her buggy. The grandmother bent down to unbuckle the child from the buggy and noticed a pair of legs standing very close to her.”
“She stood up and saw the accused less than an arm’s length away. He was holding pointed kitchen knife with a serrated edge,” said the prosecutor. Yates had thrust the knife towards the woman’s chest.
Detective Superintendent Brian Yule said: “At the time of his arrest, Yates had fully complied with all the conditions relating to his registration and our officers had visited him regularly in the days after his release.”
Last night a spokesman for the Scottish Government dismissed calls for a review of sex offender management, saying three had already taken place since devolution.
He added: “Although we do not comment on individual cases, orders for lifelong restriction – effectively a discretionary life sentence for high risk offenders – now exist and we will continue to support the judiciary when they impose these.”























