A serial sex offender told police he was an “animal who should be put down” after attacking his third victim in the space of nine years.
Martin Smith followed a woman off a bus in Aberdeen before striking.
The 27-year-old ex-soldier pushed the total stranger against a car in the city’s Westray Road and calmly ordered her to take off her clothes.
The victim began screaming, but Smith forced his fingers into her mouth to try to stifle her cries.
Advocate depute Alan Cameron told the High Court in Glasgow yesterday that the woman, who was in her late 20s, believed she was going to be raped in the terrifying attack in July.
Smith was soon caught by police and told detectives: “I’m sick. I just need to be put down.”
He admitted assaulting the woman with intent to rape and could now face a life sentence.
He targeted his victim in the early hours of July 26 as she returned home from a night out in Aberdeen city centre.
Residents heard screams and as one went to help the woman, Smith fled.
Police launched a manhunt and one officer – who had dealt with Smith in the past – believed he could be involved.
Police went to his home in the city’s North Anderson Drive and found him in “apparent distress”.
His door was forced open and it appeared he had tried to kill himself.
He then blurted out to officers: “Why did you not just let me die? I am just an animal.
“I did not mean it – just leave me. What have I done? I don’t know what came over me.
“I won’t hurt anyone else, just let me die and I’ll deal with the consequences.
“I’m sick, I just need to be put down.”
Smith also insisted he “deserved to be locked away”.
He said: “What’s the point in saving someone’s life when they have ruined someone else’s.
“That will be life in jail. I won’t be getting out until I’m 96 or 97.”
During a later interview, he claimed he had been out drinking and wanted to see a young woman naked.
Mr Cameron told the court: “He said that he was not going to rape her although added that he did not know what he had intended to do.”
The victim was left badly affected by her ordeal.
The court heard she quickly became withdrawn and has not been able to go on a bus since.
The woman felt “panicked” during a train journey to see a boyfriend and insisted he collect her when she got off.
The court was also told she waiting to see a counsellor.
Smith was detained for four years in 2006 for abduction and intent to rape.
In that incident, he followed a nurse off a bus and attacked her in the grounds of Aberdeen’s Woodend Hospital.
He was freed early in March 2008 – but just months later he struck again.
He pounced on a woman at a block of flats in Aberdeen, covered her mouth and told her not to scream.
The victim bit his hand and he ran off.
He was jailed for four months in June 2009 after pleading guilty to assault.
Smith was also ordered to serve the remainder of his first jail term before being released in January 2013.
A risk assessment will now be carried out on Smith and he could be served with an order for lifelong restriction.
Judge Lord Turnbull remanded him in custody and adjourned the case until February.