A paedophile who was jailed for stabbing a grandmother while attempting to rape and abduct her grandchildren at an Aberdeen park has died behind bars.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed Ryan Yates died in custody at HMP Glenochil on December 21, 2024.
The 44-year-old was caged for life in 2010 after admitting to stabbing a 60-year-old woman while she tried to protect her grandchildren at the city’s Westfield Park.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how Yates intended to abduct and rape the children, aged eight and two, with the monster saying he intended to kill the woman so he could “get to the kids”.
He attacked the gran as she walked with her granddaughters but she desperately fought back and he fled, reports the Daily Record.
Ryan Yates was jailed for life in 2010 for the sickening attack
He was caught by police shortly after the incident and said he had gone out that day “looking to find some children to have sex with.”
When arrested, he told officers: “I live in a fantasy… I think of a world with no adults, just me and children.”
Yates carried out the attack just days after he was released from jail after serving a seven-year extended sentence for a sexual offence.
He admitted attempting to murder the woman with intent to abduct the children, and his defence counsel told the court that Yates had agreed to be chemically castrated.
Speaking during sentencing, judge Lord Pentland said: “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.”
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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.”