PERTH KNIFE OFFENDER SENTENCED TO PROTECT PUBLIC

A knife-wielding offender named Daniel Whyte has been sentenced after attacking two women in Perth. The court heard that the 34-year-old, previously of Scott Street and now described as a prisoner at Perth, committed two separate offences on November 9, 2018. First, he confronted 23-year-old Kaitlin Green in Victoria Street, following her into an alleyway and brandishing a cutlery knife; however, she shouted loudly, which caused him to flee. About 15 minutes later, Whyte robbed 53-year-old Sara Carr of her handbag on Canal Street after pulling her to the ground, then fled but was identified later from CCTV footage. The court was told that Whyte had been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. He admitted to presenting a knife and robbing victims of cash, cards, and pictures. Previously, Whyte had two bail orders but had an escalating criminal record with numerous convictions for violence. The judge, Sheriff William Wood, described Whyte's record as "un enviable" and emphasized that a custodial sentence was appropriate, sentencing him to 80 weeks in prison, with a supervision order for nine months after release. The judge warned that if the supervision order was breached, he would be recalled to prison.