A man who bludgeoned a dog-walker with a dumb-bell while out on early release is due for a parole hearing that could see him set free from prison after serving just five years. Robbie McIntosh brutally attacked Linda McDonald as she walked in woods near her Dundee home in August 2017.
He was on home leave from prison where he was serving life for stabbing another woman to death in the city when he was just 15. McIntosh, now 36, was granted an automatic parole hearing next week despite being given an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) by the court, which means he may never be released from prison.
As the five-year-anniversary of the attack comes up this weekend, grandmother Linda has spoken out to say she blames a lack of police checks and not McIntosh for the life-changing assault. She said stricter checks on people convicted of violent crimes are needed before they are released from prison.
The 57-year-old said she feels angry at the system and is campaigning for change. Linda, was targeted by McIntosh as she walked her dog in Templeton Woods which was close to her home.
Speaking to the BBC she said: "As I turned around, he was running right towards me, but I never had a chance to do anything but to put my hand up. As I turned around, he was running right towards me, but I never had a chance to do anything but to put my hand up.
"I knew as soon as he hit me it was serious because the smell of the blood, it's like pennies and warm. I was just stunned."
McIntosh was serving a life sentence for murdering Anne Nicoll on Dundee Law 16 years earlier. He was being considered for parole and had been allowed home leave in preparation.
Linda said she begged McIntosh for mercy but he remained impervious to her pleas. She said: "I just started screaming 'help' as loud as I could. When he hit me the second time, I just knew I blacked out."
McIntosh only stopped hitting Linda when two passers-by came to her aid. She said: "I forgive him, I don't even feel angry at him. I know some of my family and friends feel different. I feel angry at the systems that fail to keep the public safe."
She said she needs 10,000 signatures to take a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for more stringent checks on violent criminals. Linda added: "If you're really wanting Scotland safe and you're wanting your policies and your systems to work, listen to the people who've survived when they don't work."
And she said she is still waiting for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to let her see a report on her attack. She accused the service of backtracking on promises to let her read the report and has been told she cannot for data protection concerns.
She said: "What's the point of having this Freedom of Information Act if you can't even get information on yourself about such a horrific thing happening to me? Part of me getting better and surviving this, mentally, emotionally, in every way, is having the information.
"If you're denied information then obviously you're going to be suspicious they're hiding something."
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: "As we have previously made clear, we are profoundly sorry for what happened to Mrs McDonald. We are fully aware of the life-changing consequences, for her and her family, as a result of this dreadful act. We have engaged with Mrs McDonald and will continue to do so."
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