A woman who “put a child’s life at risk” by pushing a pram into oncoming traffic has been jailed.
Drug addict Jane McLean was struggling to stay upright and was speaking to herself when shocked onlookers saw her pushing the pram through Lossiemouth.
At one point McLean, 50, took the crying child – who was 15 months old and not her own – from the pram and looked like she might drop her before walking into traffic.
Thankfully, the motorist managed to hit the brakes but it was enough for concerned bystanders to call the police.
Fiscal depute Susan Love told Elgin Sheriff Court that witnesses saw McLean pushing the pram while struggling to stand upright.
‘She initially looked sober’
She said the woman who placed the child in McLean’s care at around 3pm on February 11 this year initially had “no concerns about her fitness to look after the child”.
But just an hour later McLean’s strange behaviour drew the attention of a passerby as she pushed the child along Ramsey Lane, Church Street, Elgin Road, South Sovesea Terrace and North Covesea Terrace.
“The woman quickly formed the opinion that Ms McLean was under the influence,” Ms Love said.
“She was swaying, struggling to stand upright and pale. She had a blank expression and was staring off into the distance.
“The woman saw Ms McLean let go of the buggy to lean over a garden wall to speak to someone. However, there was nobody in the garden for her to be speaking to.
“She challenged the accused as to what she was going.
“Ms McLean continued walking with the pram towards Church Street. She was unsteady on her feet and was swaying as she did so.”
The woman was so concerned by what she was witnessing she followed and called the police. She also took several photographs on her phone.
“A little further up the road Ms McLean took the child from the pram and the child immediately started crying,” the fiscal said.
“The witness was concerned as Ms McLean was still unstable on her feet and she was worried she might drop the child.”
Pushed pram into traffic
The court heard how the bystander was “ready to intervene” when she saw McLean walking the pram towards traffic lights on the town’s Elgin Road.
“The child was returned to the pram and the woman followed them to the traffic light on Elgin Road,” the fiscal continued.
“She followed as she feared she might need to intervene.
“Ms McLean continued to push the pram and walked into oncoming traffic causing a car to stop to avoid colliding with her and the child.”
When police caught up with McLean “officers noted she appeared to be heavily under the influence of drugs”.
They searched her for drugs but found nothing before she was cautioned and charged and taken to Burnett Road police station.
Baby returned safe
The baby’s mum later told police she was “outraged” at McLean’s behaviour.
McLean admitted wilfully neglecting and abandoning a child in her care by being intoxicated, holding her in her arms whilst unsteady on her feet, walking into oncoming traffic whilst pushing the pram and causing a car to take evasive action.
She also admitted stealing a purse, various cards and sentimental sobriety chips from a car in Coulardbank Lane, Lossiemouth on April 30 this year.
Defence agent Stephen Carty said McLean, who sat sobbing in the dock, had been struggling with drug abuse and family issues at the time.
The court heard McLean had latterly struggled to comply and cope with an existing drug treatment and testing order.
This order was revoked and McLean, of Community Way, Lossiemouth, was jailed for 46 weeks.
Sheriff Olga Pasrportnikov told her: “You put the life of the child at risk.”
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.
