OAP knife attacker's life in jail 'better than ever before'

A SPURNED 85-year-old romantic who stabbed the 74-year-old target of his unrequited love has said his life in jail is better than it ever was before.

The defence lawyer for Joseph McGorman made the admission yesterday as the pensioner was jailed for two years and eight months for the assault.

McGorman formed an obsession for Benedicta McLean, 74, who had taken pity and befriended him. When he confessed his love for her – and she said she was married and didn't need his affections – he lay in wait at her Edinburgh home, planning to slit her throat then throw himself off the Forth Road Bridge.

She fought back and survived his frenzied knife attack – and he was caught within minutes, near the scene of the crime.

He told police who picked him up: "You can push a person too far . . . you can only take so much."

McGorman, of Corstorphine, pleaded guilty last month to assaulting his victim so severely that her life was endangered.

When he appeared for sentence at the High Court in Dumbarton, Judge Lord Pentland told him that he took into account his age and personal circumstances, but in view of "the gravity of the offence" he could not avoid a jail term.

The court heard that, despite being scarred for life, Mrs McLean "felt no bitterness towards McGorman and was sorry about what had happened".

And defence advocate Ronnie Renucci said of McGorman: "He is not seeking sympathy for what he has done. He says his situation now in jail is better than it has ever been at any time in his life."

The attack happened on 14 October last year at Mrs McLean's home in Clermiston Road, where she lived with her husband.

Heavy drinking McGorman had known Mrs McLean for about two years. She helped him, providing him with friendship, clothing and items for his home.

In the weeks before the attack, McGorman was noted by a friend to have become "jealous and obsessive".

He told another friend that he had fallen out with her, saying he loved her and that she was the only woman he had ever loved. He had also said he was going to slit her throat and throw himself off the Forth Road Bridge.

On the day of the attack, Mrs McLean left her house to go shopping and met McGorman, who had been waiting for her.

He told her he loved her, but she told him she did not need his love as she was married, and that she would no longer be going to his house.

He appeared to understand and shook her hand before kissing her on the cheek. The two then parted and went in opposite directions.

An hour and a half later, Mrs McLean returned home.

McGorman, who had been lying in wait, stabbed her several times on the face and body, then made off. Mrs McLean picked up a stone and threw it at him as he left.

Witnesses saw the bloodstained McGorman hurrying from the scene, muttering to himself.

A neighbour found Mrs McLean standing at her garden gate and called the police and an ambulance.