An abhorrent paedophile who stabbed a grandmother in a park while trying to kidnap and rape her grandchildren has died behind bars.
Evil Ryan Yates died in jail on December 21, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has confirmed. The 44-year-old was jailed for life in 2010 after he admitted stabbing his 60-year-old victim who was protecting her grandchildren at Aberdeen’s Westfield Park at the time.
Yates previously said he had tried to kill the woman, who cannot be named to protect the identities of the children, so that he could “get to the kids”. The brave grandmother had been walking with the kids when he struck, prompting her to heroically fight back.
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HMP Glenochil where Yates was incarcerated at the time of his death
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Yates fled but was subsequently found and arrested by officers, who he told he had been out “looking to find some children to have sex with”. He admitted attempted murder with intent to abduct the children at Glasgow’s High Court.
Defence for Yates told the court at the time he had “agreed to be chemically castrated”, Daily Record reports. It was heard how Yates, who only days before the attack had been released from prison for a previous sexual offence, had told officers: “I live in a fantasy… I think of a world with no adults, just me and children.”
Judge Lord Pentland told Yates during his sentencing: “I am left in no doubt that whilst you are at liberty you present an exceptionally high level of danger to the public, particularly women and children.”
During his jail term, Yates was banned from contacting another victim after sending her letters and taunting her while he was a prisoner in Peterhead. He admitted to boasting of abusing her when she was just five-years-old.
The SPS confirmed Yates died behind bars last month. As with all custody deaths, a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) will be held in due course. Police Scotland has also been informed.
A spokesperson for SPS said: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual. Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.”