A Fraserburgh woman who attacked and robbed a man who gave her refuge when she asked for a cup of tea has been jailed.
Marianne Downie knocked on the stranger’s door in Fraserburgh complaining of sore legs but after he let her in she refused to leave.
The 27-year-old pushed him to the ground, pinned him down and robbed him, Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard.
She made off with the watch from his wrist and also stole his prescription medication during the assault, which happened in Albany Court on February 3 this year.
‘Asked for a cup of tea’
Fiscal depute Ryan Diamond said: “At around 8.30pm the complainer was within his flat when the buzzer sounded continuously. He was not expecting anyone and when he answered the door he saw the accused.
“She was complaining of a sore leg and asking for a cup of tea so he allowed her entry to the flat.
“She was asked to leave after a short time. She refused to do so and so police were contacted but at that time the accused became aggressive towards the complainer.
“She pushed him to the ground and pinned him to the ground whereupon the accused robbed the complainer of his watch and thereafter left the living room.”
When police attended they realised she’d also stolen the man’s dihydrocodeine drugs.
Downie admitted a charge of assault and robbery, theft and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
She also admitted further charges of culpable and reckless conduct, resisting arrest and racially aggravated abusive behaviour during an earlier incident in Academy Road, Fraserburgh.
Headbutted man in dock
On that occasion, on December 3, 2020, she struggled with police, exposed officers to an un-capped hypodermic needle and hurled abuse.
She also admitted assaulting a member of Aberdeen Sheriff Court’s security staff, who she headbutted as he was escorting her into the dock on July 23, 2018.
Defence agent Stuart Flowerdew said Downie was a “very vulnerable individual” who has a drug problem and physical issues with her legs due to drug abuse and sepsis.
He also explained she’d grown up in a household which was “thrown into turmoil” after the death of her mum and her dad’s subsequent heroin addiction.
The solicitor added that she hoped to sort out her problems with drugs while in custody.
Sheriff William Summers jailed Downie, a prisoner at HMP Grampian, for 14 months.
Undercover police operation
Meanwhile, in a separate case, calling at the same court on the same day, Downie was handed a 12-month jail term after admitting being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin in Fraserburgh.
Downie had previously been handed a community payback order over the matter, from June 26 2018, but after not engaging with the order she appeared back in court to be sentenced again.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard undercover police officers had been tasked with testing the availability of drugs in the area as part of Operation Corner.
The operation targetted organised crime groups, often based in Liverpool, operating in the north-east.
During the operation, the undercover officers came into contact with Downie, who helped facilitate and arrange drug deals and put them in contact with dealers.
Mr Flowerdew said Downie was not a member of any organised crime group, but was a “trusted customer” and “vulnerable”.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin jailed her for 12 months.
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