A young Dundee mother who pulled a knife on a teacher from France who was walking to her work in a city school has been jailed for two years.
Cara Finlayson McIntosh (21), of Woodside Terrace, a first offender, burst into tears in the dock as Sheriff Tom Hughes passed sentence.
McIntosh previously admitted that on February 23, in Clepington Road, she assaulted Astrid Patrigeon, presented a knife at her, repeatedly placed a knife against her body, repeatedly demanded her bag, struggled with her and tried to pull her bag from her with intent to rob her of it.
The 27-year-old French teacher was on her way to Baldragon Academy when the attack happened.
At around 8am McIntosh approached her and tapped her on the shoulder and presented the knife at her.
She demanded the bag and Ms Patrigeon refused to hand it over.
She stepped forward and again demanded the bag.
McIntosh then seized the strap of the handbag and pulled it. Ms Patrigeon pulled in the other direction, resulting in a struggle.
Ms Patrigeon had a plaster cast on her left arm and struck McIntosh twice in the face with it.
McIntosh ran off without the handbag.
Ms Patrigeon was not injured, but was distressed.Hid in chest of drawersA passing motorist witnessed the incident and followed McIntosh along Clepington Road.
She was traced and, when police went to Woodside Terrace to speak to her, she was found to be hiding in a hollowed out chest of drawers.
Her partner and sister said McIntosh had gone out that morning with a knife and the specific intention of getting money.
McIntosh told police, “I never threatened to stab her.
“I just pulled a knife out. I’m sorry.”
Solicitor Ian Flynn said his client was a first offender with a young child, adding, “This was carried out solely through drug addiction.
“Although terrifying for the victim, I would ask His Lordship to take this as a one-off offence.”
Sheriff Hughes said, “This must have been a terrifying experience for the unfortunate lady in this case.”
He said he could not deal with the matter in any other way than a custodial sentence and jailed McIntosh for two years, reduced from three for her early plea.
The victim is understood to have left the city and is now teaching at a school in the Aberdeen area.