Woman attacked by Ewan Ireland claims chances to stop Peter Duncan's killer were missed

The life of Peter Duncan could have been saved if Ewan Ireland had been jailed sooner. That's the claim of a former victim of the teenager.

Ireland, who pleaded guilty to murdering the 52-year-old stranger in Eldon Square, can now be named after reporting restrictions banning the press from identifying him were lifted on his 18th birthday.

It has now been revealed that Ireland attacked a young woman, in nearby Old Eldon Square, just eight months before he killed Peter Duncan.

The teenager admitted the assault at North Tyneside Magistrate Court in March, but was given a conditional discharge.

A female victim of Ewan Ireland believes that Mr Duncan's life would have been saved if Ireland had been jailed for the attack on her.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Peter Duncan had been heading for a bus home from work when he crossed paths with Ireland, who was armed with a stolen screwdriver, near the Old Eldon Square entrance to Eldon Square, in Newcastle.

The then 17-year-old had fallen out with another teenager over cigarettes and was waiting for him to turn up so he could confront him.

As Ireland left the shopping centre at the Old Eldon Square entrance, he passed Mr Duncan who was going in and heading to the bus concourse.

The successful lawyer lifted his arm to allow the teenager to get past and the thug inexplicably took exception. He began struggling with Peter, who pushed him away and the youth then plunged a screwdriver into his heart.

At Newcastle Crown Court last month Ireland pleaded guilty to murder having an offensive weapon, namely a screwdriver, and theft of screwdrivers from Poundland.

He will be sentenced in December.

The day before Ireland killed Peter he made a cryptic post on Facebook about people passing judgement on others.