Threat to slit girl's throat during attack

A SEX attacker threatened to slit the throat of a teenage student as he subjected her to a terrifying assault when she took the family dog out for a walk.

Kevin Mathers, 23, dragged his victim into bushes and warned she would be slashed if she shouted or screamed for help. But she managed to escape when a couple walked past and she pushed her attacker away.

Unemployed Mathers, of Ferry Road Drive, Edinburgh, admitted assaulting and attempting to rape his victim on 30 June this year at a footpath leading to Telford Path, near Ferry Road.

Advocate depute Ashley Edwards told the High Court in Edinburgh: "The victim was extremely afraid and was crying. She cried throughout the entire incident." Ms Edwards added that the teenager had repeatedly begged Mathers to stop what he was doing."

Lord Pentland deferred sentence on Mathers to await risk assessments. The judge said it was "an appalling and degrading attack".