A drug addict nearly killed two lone women in separate alleyway knife attacks just weeks apart, a court has heard.

Jayden Hayes targeted his victims from behind in the early evening near their homes in Oldham, Greater Manchester, in November 2019.

The 24-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of attempted murder.

Hayes committed the first attempted murder within 90 minutes of being bailed by magistrates over a string of allegations including brandishing a knife at police officers, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Joy Clarke, 61, was repeatedly stabbed to her head, face and chest in Longfield Crescent at about 6.20pm on November 1 as she returned home from a visit to a chip shop.

Rob Hall, prosecuting, said Hayes struck Ms Clarke to the right side of her head above her ear with such force the blow knocked off her glasses and knocked out her dentures.

He said: “She fell forwards onto a blue wheelie bin which stopped her from falling to the ground. That may well have saved her life.”

Ms Clarke suffered eight stab wounds as she managed to fight off Hayes, who rode off on a mountain bike.

Hayes started the day of the attack in custody while wanted for alleged offences of criminal damage and assault he was arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and also a knife, said Mr Hall.

The prosecutor said it was “perhaps regrettable” he did not remain in custody as Hayes, with no previous convictions, was granted conditional bail by magistrates in Manchester despite opposition from the Crown.

Misleading information was given to the bench about Hayes’ personal circumstances, including a false address for his residence while on bail, the court heard.

The defendant went on to collect his bike from a friend’s house in Oldham, along with a wooden-handled steak knife, and was then captured on CCTV scouting the area to find a lone woman.

In the second attack, Desma Shirley, 71, left her home at about 5.55pm on November 20 to walk to a local shop when Hayes grabbed her from behind in an alleyway in Stoneleigh Street.

Mr Hall said: “Using his right hand, he then drew a knife blade across the front of her neck.

“The blade cut the left side of her neck to about the centre line but, by good fortune, her coat and scarf blocked him getting access with the blade to the right side of her neck and it cut into the right side of the collar of her coat.

“She screamed. This caused Jayden Hayes to run off … his intention was to simply slit her throat.

“Both women were alone in a public place and were attacked without warning from behind in the hours of darkness. It was only good fortune and their fortitude that kept them alive.”

On December 12 2019 Hayes was arrested after police released CCTV footage of the attacker.

Examination of his phone revealed he downloaded images of knife wounds and a picture of a serial killer earlier the same day, while before the first attack he searched on the internet for “stabbing in the UK – YouTube” and “man stabbed 18 times in 25 seconds on train – YouTube”.

It emerged Hayes was sectioned at Royal Oldham Hospital in September 2018 following a drug-induced pyschosis and was discharged two months later after he received anti-psychotic medication.

He stopped taking his medication from November 2018 and later refused to engage with community health services.

By the summer of 2019 he was heavily using cannabis and cocaine after he split up from his partner and became involved in a conflict between rival drug dealers, the court heard.

While in custody he has received anti-psychotic medication and there are no present issues with his mental health, the court heard.

Hayes will be sentenced on Friday.