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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Dave Finlay

Grindr killer jailed for life after stabbing lover in heart at Scots flat

A bisexual killer who brutally murdered a man after meeting him through a dating website was today jailed for life for the "brutal and callous" attack.

Drink and drugs fuelled David Bain, 28, stabbed railway employee Clifford Anderson in the heart before abandoning the fatally injured victim in his Aberdeen flat.

A judge ordered that Bain should serve a minimum of 16 years in prison before he is eligible to seek release following the murder.

Lord Boyd of Duncansby told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: "Whether or not you will be released on bail will be a matter for the parole board."

The judge said: "In the early hours of the morning of August 23 2020 you arranged to meet [Anderson] through a dating website and went to his house."

"You had consensual sexual relations with him following which you stabbed him once through the heart, as a result of which he died."

Lord Boyd said that according to Bain he took two knives from a kitchen drawer with the intention of inflicting self-harm and was on the way out of the flat when Anderson came up behind him and he then made a stabbing motion towards the victim.

The judge told Bain he had no reason to take the knives and no reason to fend off Anderson, a railway employee, who he did nothing to help after the stabbing.

Lord Boyd told the former labourer and slaughterhouse worker: "Your actions that night were brutal and callous'.

"You have struggled with mental health issues and addiction for some time, as well as issues about your own sexuality.

"You say you wish to now apologise to Anderson's family, but recognise they may not want this.

"At least you have shown some insight into the harm you have caused."

Bain was seen outside in the street with a can of lager after the fatal attack in Jasmine Terrace, in Aberdeen, shouting: "I have stabbed him."

He later told police: "I just f***ing stuck it in him."

He also said to officers: "I need to stop taking drugs. That's what it is."

Blood samples from Bain tested positive for alcohol, cocaine and diazepam in the wake of the fatal assault.

Bain had earlier denied murdering Anderson but was convicted of the crime, which carries a mandatory life sentence, last month.

He arrived at the rail worker's home in the early hours of the morning after they made contact through the Grindr app before stabbing him in the heart, which resulted in rapid and profuse blood loss.

The court heard that when a paramedic arrived at the victim's home police officers were giving him CPR, but he was in cardiac arrest and unresponsive.

A trauma team was dispatched to help and Anderson was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, but life was later pronounced extinct.

Bain disposed of the two knives he took from Anderson's home in a bin but was still found to be in possession of a multi tool with blades when he was detained by police.

Aberdeen-born Bain told his trial that as well as drinking he would consume cocaine, marijuana, diazepam, ecstasy and ketamine.

He said: "It affected my mental health quite severely." He said he was bisexual but added: "I did do sexual things with other men but I felt ashamed about it."

He said he had previously self harmed.

Bain said he had not fallen out with Anderson and there was no trouble between them.

He said he made "a stabbing motion" but the knife came into contact with the other man.

He maintained that he did not intend to strike the victim and said: "It all happened really quickly.

"After that happened I ran out the house. I opened the door and ran out in panic."

Defence solicitor advocate Kris Gilmartin told the court that Bain has a criminal record but it was not extensive and he has never previously served a jail sentence.

He said: "He wishes to express he is truly and deeply remorseful for what took place and he has struggled to come to terms with the enormity of his actions."

Gilmartin said: "David Bain has suffered years of struggling with alcohol and substance addiction."

"He carries the burden of causing the death of a man to whom he harbours no ill will and that is a burden he will carry for the rest of his life."

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