Inverness woman who ‘fainted’ outside Merkinch Primary School so her pal could steal handbag
A 25-year-old woman faked a faint so her pal could rob an elderly woman and her daughter of a handbag near an Inverness primary school.
At Inverness Sheriff Court, Courtney Smith, whose address was given on court papers as Myrtletown Park, Westhill appeared by video link from remand for sentence on the robbery she admitted on April 15.
The incident happened at 1pm on August 10 last year and involved her friend Erin Birse, who has already been sentenced for the offence.
The pair followed an 80-year-old woman and her 54-year-old daughter from Benula Road to the Merkinch Primary School car park after asking them for a cigarette, fiscal depute Victoria Silver told Sheriff Sara Matheson.
"When they reached the primary school car park, the accused pretended to faint and Erin Birse asked one of the women if she could use her mobile phone,” she said. “She then grabbed her handbag and the two ran off."
Ms Silver said some of the contents were found discarded on the ground a short distance away.
Defence solicitor advocate Mike Chapman said: "My client has a troubled and troubling background. At the time she was abusing heroin and crack cocaine. But she has since moved to Glasgow, got employment and is in a new relationship.
"She is now expecting a baby and is drug-free."
Sheriff Matheson jailed Smith for four months, backdated to March 20 when she was remanded. The sheriff told her: "It is to be hoped that you are back on a positive track. But given the seriousness of this offence and the disgusting nature of it, it is my duty is to impose a custodial sentence."
