A polite would-be mugger left empty-handed after a student told her he had no cash and his phone was dead before walking away.
Gemma Wright even pleaded “Anything I can take at all?” during the attempted robbery of the man on King Street in Aberdeen.
But the brave student, despite believing Wright had a knife, held firm and walked off.
On another occasion, the 24-year-old punched a woman in the face for calling her a “chicken”.
She later justified the attack, telling police: “What the f*** was I supposed to do? Of course I smacked her.”
Fiscal depute Tom Procter told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the attempted robbery happened around 10.30am on November 19, 2021.
‘That little rat called me a chicken’
The student had taken a bus from Robert Gordon University to King Street. When he got off by the First Bus depot he was approached by Wright.
She said: “Excuse me pal, can I have some money?”
When the man said he didn’t carry cash, Wright said: “Are you sure, pal? Do you want to think again?”
She opened her jacket and showed the student what he thought was a closed flick knife, although it later turned out to be a vaping device.
Wright did not brandish the object or make any threats, but stated: “Gimme a look at your wallet.”
The student showed Wright he had no money in his wallet and she asked: “Can I at least have your phone?”
He told her it had no battery and she asked if he had any cigarettes.
‘Her personal circumstances can hardly be more different now’
When she was again told no, an exasperated Wright asked: “Anything I can take at all?”
The student shook his head and walked off back to his flat. Wright did not follow and later reported it to the police.
In a separate incident, at 2am on December 7, 2021, a woman was walking along Tillydrone Avenue when Wright approached her and asked to use her phone to call the police.
Wright then asked for a cigarette and was given one, but when she refused to give Wright a second, she became aggressive.
Wright punched her twice on the face, causing her nose to bleed.
The matter was reported to the police and Wright was traced, cautioned and charged.
In reply, she said: “Aye, that little rat called me a chicken.
“What the f*** was I supposed to do? Of course I smacked her.”
Wright pled guilty to charges of attempted robbery, assault to injury and breaching bail conditions.
‘Clearly, drug use was a problem for you at the time’
Sheriff Andrew Miller, referring to a background social work report, said: “Her personal circumstances can hardly be more different now to what they were at the time of the offence.”
Defence agent Graham Morrison said his client’s life had gone from normal, through a spell he described as “dreadful”, and then back to normal.
He said a lengthy period on remand had helped Wright get her life back on track.
Sheriff Miller described Wright as “extremely stable” now, adding: “It very much appears she’s moved away from this period of her life.”
Addressing Wright directly, the sheriff continued: “I haven’t remotely lost sight of the unpleasant nature of these charges.
“I have regard to your age at the time of these offences, your record is extremely limited and, prior to this, you had no convictions for any crimes of violence.
“You have been drug-free for a significant period. Clearly, drug use was a problem for you at the time.”
Sheriff Miller ordered Wright to be supervised for a year.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.