Violent killer who battered dog walker with dumbbell in woods will remain in jail

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A convicted killer who attempted to kill a second woman with a dumbbell while he was on home release will remain in prison following a parole hearing.

Robbie McIntosh, 38, was jailed for life for stabbing a woman to death in Dundee when he was just 15 and was on home leave in August 2017 when he attacked Linda McDonald.

Ms McDonald was walking her dog in Dundee's Templeton Woods when McIntosh battered her with a dumbbell and left her for dead.

It is understood no application for release was made on McIntosh's behalf and the case will be reviewed in two years.

He was sentenced to a minimum of five years for the attempted murder in 2018 and given an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) which means he may never be released from prison.

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McIntosh only stopped bludgeoning Ms McDonald when two passers-by came to her aid. McIntosh was being considered for a role at the time parole at the time and was allowed home leave in preparation.

McIntosh was first eligible to apply for parole in 2022, halfway through his five-year term for the attempted murder of Ms McDonald.

No application for release was made on that occasion.

Parole reviews are automatically held at certain intervals, although prisoners can opt out of them. Ms McDonald was sent a letter in 2022 asking for her statement on why he should not be released from prison when he was eligible for parole.

The 57-year-old wrote to the Parole Board to express her “shock and disbelief” at the prospect of his release.

She travelled to an oreal hearing for his latest bid for freedom in August this year.

Her husband Matt told The Courier: "The upcoming hearing has caused Linda considerable anxiety in the weeks leading up to today.

“I am not sure why she had to go through with this today when, potentially, the parole board were aware in advance that it was not going to go ahead and would be re-scheduled.

“I am not aware of what went on at the hearing other than the parole hearing has been rescheduled for six to eight weeks time.

“Linda is fine. She attended the hearing, she witnessed McIntosh and she was given the news but she cannot speak about it.”

The Parole Board for Scotland has been approached for comment.

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