A Highland woman has been ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work for assaulting and robbing an elderly man in his home.
Rachel Lenihan or Parkin, of Shankland Court in Grantown, had previously admitted assaulting 73-year-old Joe Harvey in his home at Balnacraig Road on August 8 last year, and stealing alcohol, cash and a watch from him.
Four days later she also behaved in an aggressive manner on a bus from Inverness to Grantown towards another man and his two children.
Procurator fiscal depute Ross Carvel told Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday that Lenihan attended Mr Harvey’s home and was abusive to him, first asking for cigarette papers before he advised her he did not have any.
He added: “She continued with her behaviour and started rifling through his possessions and living room and he asked her to leave.
“She did not leave and police were contacted. She repeatedly punched him, causing bruising to his arm and he was breathless but did not require medical treatment.”
Mr Carvel said that Lenihan left with a “bottle of spiced rum,” as well as £26.54 in cash and the pocket watch.
The 46-year-old was later traced by police.
In relation to the other offence, Mr Carvel said that Lenihan approached a man and two children at the back of the bus while she was intoxicated. She was told to go away but then gave him abuse over some “previous issues.”
Defence solicitor Ken Ferguson said that his client had no recollection of the events at Balnacraig Road and that she had relapsed into alcohol misuse.
But Mr Ferguson stressed that, since these matters arose, she has been of good behaviour.
Lenihan previously admitted the offences at Inverness Sheriff Court in March. Sentence was deferred for her to be of good behaviour.
Yesterday, Sheriff Margaret Neilson ordered Lenihan to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work as community service and placed her under a one year supervision order in relation to the offence in Balnacraig Road.
Sheriff Neilson deferred sentence for six months for good behaviour concerning the second offence on the bus between Inverness and Grantown.
