A pregnant teenager who tried to rob a passer-by before spitting at a police officer will have her baby behind bars after being sentenced to 14 months' youth custody.

Nikita Higson, 18, tried to rob Brittany Wilkins in Oxford and grabbed her hair when she refused to hand over money.

Today, Oxford Crown Court heard Higson, a mother-of-one, was drunk and had taken drugs when she launched her attack with a group of other girls in March.

Clare Tucker, prosecuting, said Higson - who has previous convictions for burglary, public disorder and joyriding - was on bail for another offence at the time as well as being in breach of a conditional discharge.

Miss Tucker said: "Ms Wilkins was obviously shocked by what had happened."

She said Higson, who is four months' pregnant, was arrested and spat at a police officer.

Higson, of Abingdon Road, Oxford, admitted attempted robbery and assaulting a police officer and asked for an offence of using threatening words and behaviour to be considered.

Jane Malcolm, defending, said: "She said 'give us 50p' - what was being asked for was at the lower end of the scale. Nothing was taken. She said she had drunk too much and was hanging around with the wrong people."

Sentencing Higson, Recorder David Altaras said: "I accept the degree of violence used was fairly low level, but it must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for this young lady."