An 85-year-old woman bravely fought back against a female intruder who raided her home.
Patricia Melville challenged Pauline Hawkins – who had 138 previous convictions – at the sheltered housing flat in Glasgow’s Yoker in June this year.
The 45-year-old had been spotted raking through the pensioner’s bag.
Prosecutor Amy Hunter told Glasgow Sheriff Court: “The woman approached Hawkins and attempted to remove her bag from her, but Hawkins subsequently prevented her from getting it back.”
The thief eventually fled with whisky, money and a purse also among her loot.
Medics who later treated the pensioner initially feared she had suffered a heart attack as a result of her ordeal, but it was instead a panic attack.
Hawkins had earlier that day carried out a similar crime at the home of 69-year-old Bruce Calhoon in the same complex.
She initially claimed to be looking for a safe before leaving with just toilet paper and a phone.
On Thursday, Hawkins admitted the two theft charges as well as behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.
Sheriff Paul Reid jailed her for 15 months and ordered her to be supervised for six months on her release.
He told her: “The charges are frankly disgusting.
“The elderly people in our community need protection from people like you.”
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