The pregnant sister of murdered Dundee woman Mary McLaren has been assaulted twice in jail after being recognised by inmates, Dundee Sheriff Court has been told.
Solicitor John Boyle told Sheriff O’Carroll that the prison authorities were concerned for the safety of Michelle Roger (28), Cumnock Place. She was appearing at the court on Thursday to admit a string of serious charges.
However Sheriff O’Carroll told Roger he had no alternative to a custodial sentence and jailed her for six months. Roger’s mother Margaret had to be led from the court in tears as the sheriff announced the sentence.
Sheriff O’Carroll sentenced her to 26 weeks’ imprisonment after she admitted that on May 26 2010, at Lloyds Bar, she assaulted a woman by pushing her and slapping her, causing her to fall to the ground and strike her head, repeatedly punching and kicking her on the body and grabbing her by the hair, all to her injury.
She also admitted that on January 14 this year, at Longhaugh Police Station, she shouted and swore and threatened violence, while on bail; and possessed a knife, while on bail.
Roger further admitted that on August 29 this year, at the junction of Raglan Street and Lyon Street she behaved in a threatening or abusive manner and shouted and threatened a woman, while on bail; and breached a condition of bail not to approach or contact or attempt to approach or contact the woman, while on bail.
She also admitted that on October 9 this year in Cowgate, she assaulted a female police officer, threw a jacket at her, and repeatedly kicked her on the leg and struggled with her, while on bail.
Roger had appeared from custody for trial but instead admitted the final charge.
Depute fiscal Paul Miele told the court that on January 14 Roger had banged on the door of Longhaugh Police station at 1am. She was threatening to kill another woman. She dropped her bag and an officer attempted to pick it up. In the following struggle with her a knife fell out of the bag.
Roger then told police she was going to kill a woman and was arrested and charged.
The previous year, on May 26, at 11.10pm, Roger spoke to a woman in Lloyds Bar, Seagate, and asked her to go to the toilet with her. The woman agreed but Roger accused her of speaking about her recently deceased sister, Mary McLaren.
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Mr Miele said Roger then pushed her to the floor and punched and kicked her. The victim’s mother was concerned and asked someone to check and when he opened the door of the toilets, he saw Roger pulling the complainer across the floor by her hair.
The fiscal said police were called and she told them: ”She was on about Mary so I pushed her away. I pushed her and slapped her and she fell and hit her head.”
In relation to the assault on October 9, Mr Miele said at 2.30am outside Deja Vu nightclub Roger had been refused entry several times but made one further attempt and police intervened.
After being told to leave the area she threw her jacket at the police officer and kicked her on the right leg twice before struggling with officers and had to be restrained by handcuffs.
Solicitor John Boyle told the court Ms Rogers had been told the court had run out of options for any community-based disposal. He said she appreciated she was appearing on four complaints and has been in custody but she would appreciate anything Sheriff O’Carroll could do to allow her to stay out of prison.
”Due to the high-profile circumstances of her sister’s murder she is recognised and has had some difficulties while in the prison system,” he said.
He said in addition to verbal abuse she had been ”physically attacked on two occasions and has now been locked in a cell on her own as the prison authorities are concerned about her safety.”
He added: ”She has not had a pleasant experience in the four weeks she has been in custody.”
Mr Boyle said she was 14 weeks’ pregnant and she had stopped drinking. However he conceded that she had not kept appointments with Tayside Alcohol Problem Service as, due to the medication she was on, she often slept in.
Sheriff O’Carroll said: ”You have pled guilty to a string of offences over a period of over a year and a half and it is very regrettable that you have not taken advantage of several opportunities given to you by the courts.
”In all the circumstances there is no alternative to imprisonment.”
The sentence was backdated to November 1 when she was detained in custody.