A DRUG addict stalked a woman who had taken cash out of an ATM before robbing her during the city's lunchtime rush.

After fleeing, brazen thief Kirsty McFarlane was then chased by a member of the public who cornered her and retrieved a handbag - but minus a stolen £60.

The 29-year-old prolific offender sobbed throughout her sentencing hearing at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after having already admitted a single count of robbery.

Outlining the case prosecutor Jonathan Stone said the attack began with the victim taking money out of the Tesco, Cowley Road, cash machine on the afternoon of July 18.

She took out £60 in order to pay for driving lessons.

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As she made the transaction she was watched by McFarlane who lurked nearby and who was described as having 'cuts on her forehead, blood in her face and arms.'

The victim then crossed the road and walked down Bullingdon Road but was followed by McFarlane to Iffley Road and then Jackdaw Lane.

It was here that McFarlane first began repeatedly asking the woman for the time and with an 'aggressive' demeanour.

The victim became scared, the court heard, and was crying when McFarlane started grabbing at her handbag forcibly.

As a struggle ensued McFarlane called out 'it's my bag you f***ing bitch, give it back to me' as members of the public started to take gather.

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McFarlane then snatched the bag which contained the £60 and ran off, but was quickly chased by a member of the public.

Despite initially losing her in the chase not long after he spotted her again and managed to reclaim the bag but without the cash.

The court heard yesterday how McFarlane also has numerous previous offences for violence and theft, totalling 25 convictions for 48 offences.

In mitigation defence barrister Michael Goold called his client a 'profoundly vulnerable person' and said she had long suffered with substance misuse problems.

He added: "The target was the bag and that was what the aim was, she never intended to lay a finger on or harm [the victim].

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"She recognises the affect this will have on her and feels incredible ashamed about that and remorseful."

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said: "I can see that you are particularly emotional at the moment and I appreciate that you have got real difficulties, personality problems.

"But I have got to deal with you for an offence of robbery committed upon a complainant who was going about her business."

She was jailed for 25 months.