A cowardly drug addict who battered an 84-year-old Dundee grandmother in her home before stealing her cash has been jailed for five and a half years at the High Court in Edinburgh.
In what trial judge Lord Bannatyne described as an ”utterly cowardly and vicious attack”, Jason Forrest (31) forced his way into Catherine Henderson’s home, leaving her fearing for her life after knocking her over and repeatedly punching her, before silencing her with hands round her neck during the assault.
Forrest admitted assaulting and robbing Mrs Henderson on September 17 last year at her home in Stirling Street in the Hilltown.
Cathie’s son Peter said he was happy with the sentence, although he added: ”I would have given him more after what he did. Mum is a frail person who has never hurt anybody in her life and she thought she was going to be stabbed.”
He said his mother still suffered pain and is now afraid to go out at night after her ordeal. He also thanked the police for their ”brilliant” work in catching Forrest.
During the attack Cathie, who had been getting ready for bed, pleaded with the hooded robber: ”Don’t you think you have done enough to me?”
The pensioner had opened the door to Forrest on the night of the attack believing he might be her grandson but after the intruder pushed past her she challenged him and tried to pull his hood down to see who he was, but was met with violence.
She could only reach up to his neck because of his height but thought she may have scratched him. Forrest was later found to have scratch marks on his face.
The grandmother, who was wearing only her dressing gown, was pushed and landed on her back in the hall of her flat.
Advocate depute Richard Goddard said: ”He sat on her and repeatedly punched her on the head and body whilst pulling at her dressing gown. She screamed for help and the accused put his hands around her neck, preventing her from making any sound. She feared for her life.”
The unemployed heroin addict demanded to know where her money was as he punched her and she told him it was in a bedroom drawer.
Forrest took about £80 after rifling through purses before leaving the Hilltown flat.
The victim managed to get to her feet and lock her door and phoned her daughter in a distressed state and told her she had answered her door to a man who had ”battered her and left her in an awful mess after stealing her purses.”
Police were contacted and efforts to find the intruder were made using a tracker dog but Forrest got away.
Mrs Henderson was found to have blood on her lips and a cut on her mouth and bruising to her face. She declined to go to hospital.
Photographs were later taken of bruising to her face, left ear, back, arms and right knee and pictures of her injuries were shown to the judge.
Lord Bannatyne told Forrest: ”This was a truly appalling crime in my view. It involves an assault and robbery on an elderly lady in her own home. She was in her own home where she had every right to believe she was safe.
”You targeted this lady. It was an utterly cowardly and vicious attack,” said the judge, adding: “All her self-confidence has gone as a result of this attack and there have been other significant effects on her ability to live alone.
”The court must take a very serious view of crimes of this type.”
He pointed out that Forrest had an extensive criminal record four convictions for assault and 15 for shoplifting.
The judge told him he would have faced a 7-year jail sentence but for his guilty plea.
Mr Goddard said the crime had sparked outrage in the local community and a neighbour of the victim called the police stating she believed Forrest was the perpetrator. He was detained three days after the attack and found to have abrasions on his face and a DNA match was found with a sample taken from the victim.
Defence counsel Jonathan Crowe said: ”There is no escaping this was a horrific crime against a defenceless lady.”
He said at the time Forrest was homeless and taking more and more heroin and had little recollection of the events.
”He is ashamed. He is embarrassed and for what it is worth he offers a sincere apology both to the victim and her family. He offers an assurance that never again will he stoop so low,” he said.
Mr Crowe said Forrest was expelled from school and ran off to London as a 14-year-old and was a father a year later. But after the relationship broke down the scaffolder returned to Dundee and following further difficulties turned to drink and drugs for solace.