A drug addict has been jailed for 18 months for a ”cowardly” mugging which left a Perth pensioner with a broken hip.
David Sheehan followed 83-year-old Stella Smart down a dark alleyway beside a city centre supermarket before attempting to rob her and knocking her to the ground on January 19 this year, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
In a strange twist, the 24-year-old, previously of Mill Street, Stanley, was seen apologising to the badly-injured woman as he fled the scene empty-handed.
His solicitor claimed he had been threatened with violence if he didn’t pay off a £2,500 debt and made a ”spur of the moment” decision to steal something he now ”deeply regretted”.
However, members of the public reported seeing him ”loitering” outside the Morrisons supermarket on Caledonian Road for some time before he struck at 6.20pm.
Mrs Smart, who was commended for her bravery, managed to keep hold of her handbag during the violent struggle but was seriously injured when she fell on to the concrete pavement.
After being found by a passer-by, she was taken to hospital by ambulance, where she underwent emergency surgery. She spent almost a month in a recovery ward.
The victim was too upset to talk after Wednesday’s sentencing, but in a letter to the court her son described the impact of the attack.
He explained that though his mother was back at home, she was still in great discomfort and had to use two walking aids. She had previously been quite active and valued her independence regularly popping to the shops on her own by bus, as she had been doing on January 19.
Sentencing Sheehan, Sheriff Brian Cameron said custody was the only possible disposal.
”This was a cowardly attack on an elderly lady who was going about her day-to-day business,” he said. ”I think you recognise that a custodial term is the only thing that is appropriate in these circumstances.”
The jail term was reduced from 24 months to 18 months to take into account Sheehan’s early plea.
Detailing the crime, depute fiscal Stuart Richardson said: ”Before she reached the end of the footpath, Mr Sheehan came up to her and grabbed hold of her handbag and tried to pull it from her.
”However, Mrs Smart was not prepared to surrender the handbag and a struggle ensued. She was laden with bags of messages and was on her way to get the bus home.”
He continued: ”Mrs Smart fell to the ground during the attack and it was immediately obvious she was in a lot of pain. Rather incongruously, Mr Sheehan apologised to her before leaving the scene.”
At an earlier hearing, Sheehan had pled guilty to an indictment which alleged he assaulted Mrs Smart to her severe injury and permanent impairement, while on bail for another offence.
He is the subject of a drug treatment and testing order and has been prescribed heroin substitute methadone.
Defence agent Paul Ralph said his client felt remorse as soon as his victim fell to the ground.
He said: ”His life had been on the up and he was making good progress on a drug treatment and testing order. However, shortly before the incident someone told him he owed £2,500 and he was threatened with physical violence if he did not pay up.
”That does not excuse what he did he accepts that. He deeply regrets his actions and understands how dramatic the consequences were.
”This was largely spur of the moment, but I understand that a decision had been made some time before the commission of this offence. Unfortunately, Mrs Smart was the person who crossed Mr Sheehan’s path that time.”