Rape-bid Dunblane survivor awaits fate

Ryan Liddell attacked the 76-year-old at her house in the Stirlingshire town on June 14 last year.

The 20-year-old had denied the charges against him but was convicted by a jury earlier this year of assaulting the woman with intent to rape her, putting her life in danger.

Liddell was shot and injured during the tragedy at Dunblane primary school in 1996, in which gunman Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and their teacher.

Liddell, from Dunblane, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing yesterday.

However, he will have to wait almost three more months to learn his fate after a judge called for another report to be compiled before he passes sentence.

A risk assessment report will now be completed to determine whether an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) should be imposed.

Under such orders, prisoners can only be freed once the Parole Board deems it safe to do so, and they are supervised for the rest of their life following their release.

Yesterday, Judge Lord Uist told Liddell: “In view of the circumstances of the crime with which you were convicted and the terms of the social inquiry and psychiatric reports on you which I have received, I consider that the risk criteria may be met in your case.

“I, therefore, now make a risk assessment order in terms of which you will be remanded in Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution so that there may be prepared there, by an accredited risk assessor, a risk assessment report; that is to say a report as to what risk your being at liberty presents to the safety of the public at large.”

The case will next reach the High Court in Edinburgh on November 11 and Liddell remains in custody.