A 26-YEAR-OLD Arbroath man, who assaulted and robbed an 80-year-old woman in an underpass in the town and then spent the proceeds of his crime on drink and a tattoo, was jailed for three years at Arbroath Sheriff Court yesterday.

Jamie Stewart, described as a prisoner at HMP Perth, appeared from custody before Sheriff Norrie Stein and admitted that on September 20, in the underpass between John Street West and Robert Street, he assaulted the woman to her injury by punching her on the body and knocking her to the ground and robbed her of a bag and its contents, including a purse containing approximately £200.

Procurator Fiscal Lis Miller told the court the woman had been shopping in the nearby Morrisons store and had been taking a shortcut home through the underpass when the attack took place.

She said, “Having seen the woman enter the underpass Stewart followed her and, although she was aware of someone coming up behind her, she had no way of knowing what was about to happen.

“She felt a push to her back which knocked her to the ground and her bag was pulled from her arm.

“This lady was not in a position to offer any resistance at all and, after the attack, she saw a male figure running away from her up the stairs.

“There was no-one else about but, fortunately, she found she was not greatly injured and was able to get up herself and make her way to the police station to report what had happened.”

The court heard she sustained bruises to her hand, elbow, knee and back and was prescribed Valium at Arbroath Infirmary to help her deal with the shock and anxiety she suffered, although she declined the offer of painkillers.

Ms Miller said the woman had made a full physical recovery but still suffered some anxiety and apprehension about going out and shopping on her own and was relieved she would not have to give evidence in court.

The court heard the police investigation began to focus on Stewart when it emerged that, having been ‘hard up’ during the early part of that day, later he had been buying drinks for himself and friends at a local pub and had also paid for a taxi and a tattoo.

When detained and interviewed he was unable to give any credible explanation as to how he had money to spend.

Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said that Stewart had been abusing heroin for several years and the offence ‘bore all the hallmarks’ of a spur-of-the-moment crime committed out of desperation for money to buy drugs.

Mr Rennie said that, for what it was worth, Stewart wished to express his deep remorse and apologies to the woman and to accept the inevitable custodial sentence.

Sheriff Stein told Stewart, “For the assault and robbery of a defenceless old lady there can be only one sentence, and that is imprisonment.”

Sentence was back-dated to September 25, since when Stewart has been held on remand in connection with the offence.