A woman has been jailed after threatening to stab a 12-year-old girl before robbing her in Dundee city centre.
Jade Louise Laing, 37, formerly of Greendykes Road, Dundee, followed the youngster after she walked from a cash machine to the city’s busy Reform Street on September 19.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that Laing approached the girl on South Ward Road at around 4pm and asked for her to hand over the cash she “owed” her.
The youngster replied she had “no idea” what she was talking about and continued on through the Howff cemetery towards Reform Street.
Fiscal Depute Stewart Duncan told the court Laing followed her before telling her “give me the money from the bag or I’ll stab you.”
After pulling the bag from the youngster, she then entered McDonald’s where she sat down to rummage through the contents.
Upon hearing what happened, two 16-year-old friends of the victim, as well as staff at McDonald’s then walked over to her to demand the backpack be returned.
The girl, who was standing outside the chain, was described as very upset by the incident and was left crying in the street.
Police were contacted and Laing, who left the fast food restaurant, was then traced in nearby Bank Street.
She was cautioned and charged made no reply to officers.
In Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Laing admitted assaulting the girl, threatening her with violence and threatening to stab her.
She also admitted demanding she hand over her backpack before robbing her.
The offences were committed while Laing was on bail granted on August 21.
A defence agent acting on behalf of Laing, who was intoxicated at the time, said she was remorseful and deeply saddened by the trauma she inflicted on the schoolchild.
She said: “She wants to apologise to the young girl and says she is appalled by her behaviour.
“She acknowledges she deserves a custodial sentence. She wants as little inconvenience to the girl as possible.”
Sheriff Thomas Hughes said Laing, a prisoner at the Prison of Edinburgh, should “rightly” feel remorseful and described it as an “appalling incident involving a young child.”
He sentenced her to 12 months in prison backdated to September 20, reduced from 18 months on account of her guilty plea.
