iStockA man who searched “how to kill a woman” online and later attacked a lone female has been handed a life sentence.
Brandon Bloice attempted to murder the stranger after knifing her in the back in the early hours of September 21, 2019.
The 23-year-old had also planned to rape the victim before fleeing the scene when she yelled for help.
He struck in Carpenter Street, Perth, just minutes after he prowled after another woman, who managed to run away.
Bloice – a convicted sex attacker once told to alert social workers if he ever started a relationship – was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.
Judge Gillian Wade QC imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction and that 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.
Bloice had pled guilty last June to attempting to murder the woman with intent to rape as well as threatening and abusive behaviour towards the other.
The judge warned Bloice there is the possibility that 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 premeditated 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.”
The victim had gone to her local Asda store in Perth around 12.40am that night.
She was walking alone and not aware of anyone near her.
Prosecutor Shanti Maguire told the hearing: “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.
Bloice was traced to a hostel in the city the next day.
He initially claimed to police: “I do not know what you are on about.”
Officers, who also found clothes matching the attacker, went on to examine phones and a tablet device discovered in his room.
Ms Maguire said: “During the analysis, it was established he had used the search terms: ‘how to kills a woman stabbing’ and “can a dead woman still get pregnant’.”
The advocate depute added Bloice now accepted the assault was carried out with intent to rape the terrified victim.
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.”
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 spotting him in Perth’s High Street and asked for friends to join her as she collected 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.
Ms 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.”
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