A dangerous sexual predator who searched online “how to kill a woman” and later pounced on a lone female in Perth city centre has been handed a life sentence.
Brandon Bloice attempted to murder the stranger by knifing her in the back in the early hours of September 21 2019.
The 23-year-old had also planned to rape the woman but fled the scene when she yelled for help.
He struck in Carpenter Street, just minutes after he prowled after another woman, who managed to run away.
Bloice was already a convicted sex attacker who had been told to alert social workers if he ever started a relationship .
Judge Gillian Wade QC imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) and said he must serve at least four years behind bars.
He has become one of the youngest offenders in Scotland to be hit with an OLR.
‘Abhorrent and pre-meditated assault’
Bloice had pled guilty last June to attempting to murder the woman with intent to rape, as well as threatening and abusive behaviour towards his other victim.
The judge warned Bloice there is the possibility he may never be freed.
She said: “You attempted to murder a woman who was a complete stranger to you.
“The court heard a chilling and disturbing account of your predatory behaviour towards other unidentified women in the hours before this attack.
“This was an abhorrent and pre-meditated assault.
“These events occurred against a background of established sexual offending and stringent monitoring but you failed to comply with the measures put in place to protect the public.
“The (four-year minimum) does not signify that you will be released at that stage or perhaps ever will be.”
Followed and stabbed stranger
The woman he tried to kill had gone to the nearby Asda store in Perth at around 12.40am.
She was walking alone and not aware of anyone near her.
Prosecutor Shanti Maguire told the High Court in Glasgow: “As she got to an alleyway near a design shop, she felt a sharp pain in her back.
“She screamed and turned around.
“She saw Bloice facing her.
“She started screaming, ‘help, police’, over and over again.
“Bloice ran off in the direction of Perth Concert Hall.”
A number of passers-by rushed to help the bleeding victim.
She was treated at hospital for a single stab wound to the back.
Sinister internet searches
Bloice was traced in a hostel in the city the next day.
He initially claimed to police: “I do not know what you are on about.”
Officers found clothes matching the description of the attacker.
They went on to examine phones and a tablet device discovered in his room.
Miss Maguire said: “During the analysis, it was established he had used the search terms: ‘how to kill a woman stabbing’ and “can a dead woman still get pregnant’.”
The advocate depute added Bloice now accepts the assault was carried out with intent to rape the terrified survivor.
She told the court: “Although he did not intend to kill her, he was wickedly reckless as to whether she lived or died as a result of the stab wound.”
Second woman comes forward
After an initial police appeal to catch Bloice, another woman came forward to report how he had tracked her five minutes before the murder bid.
She had felt “uneasy” after seeing him in Perth’s High Street and asked for friends to join her to collect her bike.
The woman eventually said she was “fine” and started walking alone.
However, she then again became aware of Bloice, who had made up “significant ground” behind her.
She started running and immediately called her boyfriend.
Miss Maguire said: “Due to Bloice’s actions, the woman was scared and stayed on the phone until she got home.”
Ronnie Renucci, defending, said background reports into Bloice made “somewhat depressing reading”.
The QC added: “It will be entirely up to him if he engages with the authorities to try and improve his situation.”
What is an Order for Lifelong Restriction?
An OLR is a lifelong sentence of imprisonment open to High Court judges for serious, violent offences, other than murder.
They are imposed where it is clear the offender remains a danger to the public through re-offending if freed.
A “punishment” portion of the sentence which must be served in prison will be imposed – four years in Bloice’s case – before parole can be considered.
Should release from prison be agreed, the offender will still be subject to stringent conditions and social work supervision and can be returned immediately to prison if they offend again.
