A woman who mugged her elderly boyfriend in broad daylight before threatening to ‘knock the jaw off’ a Good Samaritan has been jailed.
Katie Bland, 31, from Greetland, Halifax, was in a relationship with a man in his 70s who she would often abuse and demand money from.
On January 6, the gentleman left after an argument but was met with a barrage of abusive calls from Bland asking for money, Bradford Crown Court was told.
At around 4pm, she found out he was at a bus station in Halifax and travelled to him where she continued her abusive onslaught, calling him a racist word and a ‘dirty dog’.
Moments later, she grabbed him by the collar of his coat and threw him around as she demanded cash.
The pensioner offered Bland £20 but instead she wanted his bank card and became aggressive when he refused to hand it over.
He offered to go to the cash point with her to withdraw money, however, she became violent on the way and started kicking him in the leg and screaming at him.
A woman who witness the attack tried to intervene but Bland then turned on her, grabbing her by her scarf and telling her she would ‘knock her jaw off’ if she ‘didn’t shut the f**k up’.
Katie Bland (pictured), 31, from Greetland, Halifax , was in a relationship with a man in his 70s who she would often abuse and demand money from
She then carried on assaulting the elderly man and managed to withdraw £40 from his bank account before police officers turned up.
Bland was arrested and, despite responding with ‘no comment’ to all questions, later pleaded guilty to robbery, assault by beating, fraud and blackmail.
In his witness statement, the elderly gentleman said he has ‘never been so depressed or worried’ throughout his entire existence as he was during his relationship with Bland.
His statement, read out by prosecutor Nathan Davis, said: ‘I wake up and don’t know how she is going to be. I get abused daily.
‘I lost all of my friends for my relationship. My friends have told me what she is like and asks for money to buy drugs.
‘Her behaviour is the last weeks has become worse. It has affected me to the point I want to give up with life.
‘I never want to come home due to the mess she has left in my house.’
The court heard that Bland, who participated via video connection from HMP New Hall, possessed prior criminal convictions and was serving under a suspended sentence for a separate robbery when she carried out the offences for which she faced sentencing on Friday.
Bland was sentenced to two years and three months in jail at Bradford Crown Court (pictured)
In mitigation, Shila Whitehead explained: ‘What she tells me is she has been in custody since January. She said she is aware her behaviour towards him was unacceptable and she is willing to accept help. She accepts at the time of committing these offences she was using drugs and was heavily dependant on them.
‘During the time she has been in prison she tells me that she has undertaken a number of courses which has helped her. She is hoping to get help and change her ways and not have the lifestyle she has had for three years.
‘When she has appeared before the court she wants to make amends and lead a law-abiding life. He has been in touch with her while she has been in prison and has been in communication with her family.
‘He says he wants to support her if she wants to put in the time to lead a law-abiding life. Her family are supporting her throughout this. They have accommodation for her. They are supporting her and will be there for her when she is released from prison.’
Bland was sentenced to two years and three months in jail.
