Drug addict jailed for robbing 75 year old woman of £20 in East Lothian
The theft happened in March
A drug addict, egged on by another man to get cash for drugs by robbing a 75-year old woman, while she was at an ATM, has been jailed for three years.
32 year old David Tait, a prisoner in Saughton, pled guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (June 28) to robbing Nora Heatlie of £20 in the High Street, Musselburgh, on March 28 this year.
Fiscal Depute, Mark Keane, told Sheriff Norman McFadyen that Ms Heatlie was at a Clydesdale Bank ATM about 9.20 am and placed her card in the machine.
"The accused was watching her as she waited for the cash" said Mr Keane.
"As she removed two £10 notes, the accused grabbed her right arm by the elbow, snatched the cash, ran off and was lost to sight".
The following day, the Fiscal said, the police were made aware that Tait had been in the High Street and, when he was detained, he admitted stealing the £20 and told them he needed the money for heroin.
Defence solicitor, Robert Lowe, admitted his client had a serious record and had issues with alcohol and drugs.
He had been in homeless accommodation, but had left and was sleeping rough. Mr Lowe said Tait had made a "new friend", who had suggested getting money for drugs by robbing the woman at the cash machine.
Tait, he added, had told the police: "I am sorry. The woman did not deserve it".
Sheriff McFadyen told Tait: "This was a very aggravated matter involving the robbery of an elderly lady".
Given Tait's previous convictions, he said he took as his starting point a sentence of four years, but reduced that to three because of the early plea of guilty.