Rapist faces a life behind bars

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A teenager who raped a care worker at knifepoint may never be released from jail after a judge imposed a lifelong restriction order on him.

Steven Malcolm, 19, is only the second dangerous criminal in Scotland to be subjected to the order, which involves monitoring for the rest of his life.

Judge Lord Menzies imposed the order while jailing Malcolm for nine years.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard he was on bail and under a probation order at the time of the attack in Falkirk.

Unemployed Malcolm, of Ross Crescent, Camelon, Falkirk, admitted abducting and raping a 50-year-old woman while under a bail order granted at Alloa Sheriff Court.

The whole episode must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for your victim to whom I express publicly my heartfelt sympathy Lord Menzies

His victim persuaded him to release vulnerable residents at the care home before he forced her at knifepoint into a room and repeatedly raped her.

Lord Menzies told Malcolm that his crimes were "appalling" and that he posed a "serious risk of harm" to the public.

He said he was required to fix a minimum period for his detention but it did not necessarily mean he would be released at the end of that time.

"In most cases a convicted person is not released on licence at the expiry of it (detention period) and may never be released on licence," the judge said.

He said Malcolm would only be released into the community when it was considered safe.

Learning difficulties

Lord Menzies added: "The whole episode must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for your victim to whom I express publicly my heartfelt sympathy."

The court heard Malcolm's victim and her 42-year-old colleague were working at a care home operated by NHS Trust Forth Valley which dealt with people with learning difficulties.

Malcolm jumped out at them, causing the women to scream.

Residents came to see what was happening, but the victim managed to persuade Malcolm to let them go back to the living room.

She tried to calm Malcolm down but he held a knife to her throat and forced her downstairs.

Advocate depute Neil Beardmore said: "She thought she was going to die.

"He instructed her to remove the rest of her clothing, which she did. At this point she realised she was going to be raped."

Police dog

The court heard the woman pleaded with Malcolm to stop and at one stage, fearing she would be killed, she grabbed the knife handle and struggled with him.

She refused to let go and Malcolm began biting her arm. When the police arrived, he told the woman to warn them to back off or he would slit her throat.

He took his hostage to the front door, where they were faced by police. When Malcolm tried to move back into the home, an officer blocked his way.

His victim managed to grab the knife and a police dog was let loose to restrain him.

Malcolm later claimed to police that he was a "caring, gentle guy" but added: "Last night I was evil".

Defence solicitor Oat Wheatley QC told the court Malcolm felt "very bad" for his victim.

"He accepts that he requires appropriate punishment," she said.