A WOMAN who robbed a man of £9, after assaulting him as he was making his way from a pub at night, was jailed for nine months.

Debbie Traynor was, at the time of the latest incident, on licence after her release midway through a two-year sentence for a previous wounding offence, committed on another man, who is registered disabled, in his own home.

Durham Crown Court was told the victim of the latest offence was drinking with friends at Finnigan’s, in Trafalgar Street, Consett, on Sunday February 5.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the man got up to leave at about 10.10pm and was making his way towards the exit when he felt a blow from behind.

He went to the ground, suffering injuries to the face, and, while still groggy, felt someone rifling through his pockets.

Mr Dryden said, on hearing the commotion, the publican went to investigate and saw Traynor apparently stealing from the prone man’s pockets.

Her hand was pulled away and she left the premises as the licensee checked on the victim’s condition.

The man, who, other than the facial injuries, was not badly hurt, believed about £9 in coins had been removed from his pocket.

Police were notified and a description was circulated of Traynor, who was wearing a bright orange dress.

Mr Dryden said, partly due to her distinctive clothing, she was spotted in other licensed premises in Consett town centre and arrested, about 20 minutes later, in an apparently inebriated condition.

The court was previously told that she made, “certain admissions” to the arresting officer, but when formally interviewed, later, at the police station, she denied robbing the pub customer.

Thirty-five-year-old Traynor, of Delvedere, Consett, denied a charge of robbery at a plea hearing, in March, when the court was told she maintained she acted in self-defence.

Her case was adjourned for a trial this week, but, appearing for the scheduled start of the hearing, Traynor’s barrister, Dan Cordey, asked for the charge to be put again to the defendant.

She pleaded guilty and Mr Cordey presented a letter to the Recorder, Euan Duff, prior to sentence being passed.

Mr Cordey told the court that Traynor’s record had improved in recent years, other than the two most recent convictions, and, having reached her mid-30s, she believes it is time she became, “a changed person.”

Jailing her for nine months, with a £140 statutory court surcharge, Recorder Duff told Traynor that, following her release, he hoped she will go on to stand by her pledge in the letter presented to the court.