Virgin teenager Ben Moynihan: Guilty of stabbing women

The knife Ben Moynihan used to stab three women in the chest and breast

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An 18-year-old man has been found guilty of attempting to stab three women to death.

Ben Moynihan told police "all women need to die" and that he was frustrated with "fussy" women.

Winchester Crown Court heard how in a note he said: "I am still a virgin, everyone is losing it before me, that's why you are my chosen target."

Moynihan, of Knightstone Court, Portsmouth, had admitted wounding but was found guilty of attempted murder.

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, said the defendant left two letters for police.

One, placed on a police van, said: "All women need to die and hopefully next time I can gouge their eyes out.

"Every time I stab someone I like to go home and smell the flesh I have ripped out. Come and arrest me for God's sake before I hunt for my fourth victim."

'Diary of evil'

He also wrote: "I was planning to murder, mainly women, as an act of revenge because the life they gave me."

After the verdicts Ms Maylin said: "He told the police and the court that he would have carried on with attacks and on the day of his arrest was 'hunting for his fourth victim'".

"He targeted women and chose to attack increasingly older women whom he thought would not survive his attacks."

The court also heard about Moynihan's obsession with serial killers and that he kept a "diary of evil".

It said: "I was planning to murder mainly women as an act of revenge because of the life they gave me, I'm still a virgin at 17.

"I attack women because I grew up to believe them as a more weaker part of the human breed.

"I also done it to get out of this horrible life with more stress and to save myself and my family, I'm not a bad child and didn't want to do this but have no choice."

On 20 June, Moynihan stabbed a 20-year-old woman in the chest on Southampton Road, opposite a block of flats on Ashurst Road, Cosham.

Nine days later, he stabbed a 45-year-old dog walker in the chest as she walked on a footpath along the shore of Ports Creek in Hilsea.

A third woman, 66, was attacked on 11 July as she walked in an alleyway between Colwell Road and Northern Road in Cosham.

Senior investigating officer Det Insp Liam Davies said: "We would like to thank the three women who were attacked in June and July for their courage and assistance. The violence inflicted on them was particularly distressing as it was completely unexpected."

The court heard how Moynihan has autistic spectrum disorder. He will be sentenced at a later date.