Woman jailed for attack on ‘terrified’ pensioner

AN 84-year-old woman was left terrified to go out on her own after being robbed of a shopping bag in the West End.

Lorraine Jackson attacked the woman, as she made her way to the Premier shop on Blackness Road.

Jackson, 47, was jailed after she admitted robbing the woman of an empty shopping bag in May last year on Seymour Street.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard how Jackson was previously the subject of a major police incident in the area after allegedly being abducted by county lines gang members.

Prosecutor Marie Irvine revealed the OAP was walking towards the shop when she encountered Jackson leaving a 4x4 vehicle at around 3pm.

“The complainer was walking past the accused and they engaged in conversation . . . about the weather,” Ms Irvine said.

“She continued to walk past her. The accused suddenly pushed her on the back, grabbed her left wrist while saying ‘what’s that in your hand?’

“The accused pulled at the bag and as it was wrapped around the complainer’s wrist, it took several attempts before the accused managed to gain possession.”

Jackson fled into the car and a witness comforted the elderly woman.

Police weren’t contacted until the following day when the woman told a friend she was frightened to go out.

She later pointed out a woman in the street she thought was Jackson.

Officers showed a set of 12 photographs and she identified Jackson as the woman responsible.

Jackson, who appeared via videolink from HMP Greenock, admitted assaulting the pensioner on Seymour Street on May 6, 2020, by seizing her arm, pushing her on the body, struggling with her and robbing her of a shopping bag.

Defence solicitor Gary McIlravey said the pensioner was previously part of a group of people who had gathered at the police incident.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael sentenced Jackson to 18 months in jail.

A YOUNG Tayside cancer survivor will help ensure others access the recovery support they need by joining the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s youth board.

Victoria Sanches was first supported by the Trust in 2013 while in recovery from craniopharyngioma, a type of brain tumour.

Following lifesaving surgery, she has been in remission for 10 years and is a Duncan of Jordanstone graduate.

In 2017, she became a volunteer, leading crews