A three-year-old child was left terrified after a beggar followed her family and spat at her mum in Aberdeen city centre.
Joanna Collins approached the family, with children aged two and three, near the Union Square shopping centre and asked them for money.
But when they declined, the 26-year-old refused to take no for an answer and followed them across the road repeating the request.
And when there was still no money forthcoming she spat towards the mum.
Fiscal depute Brian Young told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “At 5pm on March 3 2021, the accused approached the witnesses, who were with their two children, near the bus station outside Union Square.
“The accused asked them for money. The witnesses declined to give the accused any money and walked away from her.”
Child left ‘distressed’
But Collins followed the family as they attempted to cross the road, stopped them on the central reservation and again asked for money.
Mr Young said: “The accused was intoxicated and her behaviour frightened the witnesses.
“Their three-year-old child was distressed and tried to hide from the accused.”
Collins continued to follow the mum and spat towards her twice.
The mother was able to move out of the way and was not hit. Collins then left and the police were contacted.
On March 19 last year, just before 10pm, Collins approached a taxi driver on Hadden Street.
The driver refused to allow Collins into the vehicle “as he could tell that she was intoxicated”.
In response, Collins spat in the man’s face before “storming off”.
Collins, of Alexander Terrace, Tillydrone, pled guilty to two charges of assault.
Accused was ‘very drunk’
Defence agent David Sutherland said: “I accept, as does she, that these are thoroughly disgusting and despicable offences involving antisocial behaviour by Ms Collins.”
He went on to say Collins, who was already serving a custodial sentence, had been raised by her grandmother until she was 12 as her mother was a drug addict and her father had been murdered in prison.
Mr Sutherland explained Collins had also spent time in the care system and had suffered an abusive relationship.
He said she had limited education but had managed to qualify as a hairdresser, although had been unable to gain employment in the field.
She also had a “long-standing addiction initially to drugs and more latterly alcohol”.
The solicitor added Collins had been “very drunk” at the time of the offences and planned to use her time in custody to address her issues.
Sheriff Graham Buchanan ordered Collins to be jailed for 12 months consecutive to her current sentence.
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