Attack man 'was elite vigilante'

Sentence at the High Court in Glasgow was deferred for reports

A former oil worker attacked a prostitute as part of a bid to rid the streets of drugs, a court has heard.

Graham Caie, 30, took Sharline Wright to an Aberdeen golf course before repeatedly striking her with a pole and dumping her from his car.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Caie believed himself to be the leader of "an elite band of vigilantes" fighting against drug dealers.

He admitted the attack, which was in December 2007. Sentence was deferred.

The victim was in the city's Miller Street when she began talking with Caie and asked if she could sit in his car because she was cold.

The court heard he then drove to nearby Balnagask Golf Course.

It was there that he demanded the 30-year-old's handbag and then began fighting with the mother-of-one.

He seemed to genuinely believe himself to be the leader of some elite band of vigilantes dedicated to eradicating the menace of drugs from the streets Derek Ogg QC Prosecutor

Derek Ogg QC, prosecuting, said Caie went from "very nice and friendly" to being "manic and violent".

Caie threw her out of his vehicle and started to kick and punch her on the head and body.

Mr Ogg added: "The accused then went to his car threatening to kill her.

"He retrieved an item from the car which the complainer thought was a metal bar. With both hands on it, he repeatedly swung it shouting that he was going to kneecap her.

"He threw away her boots into the darkness and then succeeded in delivering several blows with the weapon to her head and knees."

'Extraordinary violence'

Ms Wright managed to get back into the vehicle and lock the doors, but Caie smashed a window with the pole.

He then continued the assault of "extraordinary violence" on his terrified victim before driving off with her handbag.

She had to walk barefoot to a nearby road, where she stopped a motorist.

The victim was later able to give police Caie's car registration after wiping mud from the number plate while she was being battered.

The court heard she had since given up prostitution and remained "emotionally affected" from being attacked.

Caie showed "no remorse" at the time and expressed "extraordinary justification" for what he had done.

'Genuinely remorseful'

Mr Ogg said: "He seemed to genuinely believe himself to be the leader of some elite band of vigilantes dedicated to eradicating the menace of drugs from the streets.

"Obtaining a prostitute's bag was said by him to be a way to obtain her phone, which would lead to the discovery of the identities of drug dealers."

Caie admitted assault and robbery.

He is currently in Carstairs State Hospital receiving treatment for a mental disorder called hypomania.

Frances McMenamin QC, defending, said he was a man of "no limited intelligence" who once worked for an oil company in the Middle East.

She added: "Mr Caie finds it difficult that he could have inflicted the violence on the complainer. He is deeply and genuinely remorseful."

Judge Lord Bannatyne placed Caie on an interim compulsion order and adjourned the case for reports until February.