An 84-year-old woman suffering from dementia was targeted in the street by a drug addict who tried to steal her handbag.

The pensioner was shopping with her daughter in the centre of Dunfermline when Rachel Stewart pulled at her handbag.

She had stopped the woman asking for the time and then for change before trying to rob her.

Stewart has now been jailed for a spate of crimes which also included stealing a charity collection box from a Dunfermline bowling club.

She also assaulted staff at a shop after she had been caught shoplifting.

Stewart, 39, of Adamson Crescent, Dunfermline, appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing after previously admitting her crime spree.

On September 11 last year at Carnegie Leisure Centre, she stole a swimming costume.

On November 6 at Mountain Warehouse, High Street, she stole a quantity of clothing.

She then assaulted a male employee by pushing him on the body.

Stewart also assaulted a female employee and attempted to scratch her on the head with a rucksack.

On November 7 at Marks and Spencer, High Street, she stole a quantity of watches.

On April 13 at East Port, Dunfermline, she attempted to rob a woman by pulling at her handbag and attempted to steal it.

On the same day, at Dunfermline police station she was in possession of heroin.

On June 10 at Arthur Street, she entered three insecure cars and stole items including sunglasses, a mobile phone and money.

Between June 6 and 7, at Robertson Road, she entered an insecure car and stole a bank card and MOT certificate.

On June 7 at Asda, Halbeath Retail Park, the Co-op, Robertson Road and other premises she fraudulently obtained goods using a debit card which was not her own and also attempted to obtain other goods with it.

On June 15 at Headwell Bowling Club, Shamrock Street, she stole a charity collection box.

Sheriff James MacDonald said of the attempted robbery on the elderly woman: “On any view this was a despicable offence.”

He jailed Stewart for a total of 12 months.