A WEXFORD town woman who assaulted and robbed an elderly woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison when she came before Judge Alice Doyle at Wexford Circuit Court last week.

Thirty-one-year-old Sharon O'Brien of 16 Ferndale Terrace, Wexford, pleaded guilty robbing Angela Breen at Crescent Quay car park, Wexford, of €35 in cash; a ladies' handbag worth € 50, a nokia phone and a brown purse.

She also pleaded guilty to attempting to rob Lily Neville at Church Lane car park, Wexford, on September 15, 2008.

Detective Garda David Beale told the court that the defendant attempted to rob Lily Neville at Church Lane car park. On the same day Angela Breen was robbed and the contents of her bag was stolen.

On the occasion at Church Lane car park, Lily Neville was putting the contents of her shopping into the boot of the car and was attacked from behind, but she managed to hold on to her bag. At the time the accused threatened that she had an unused syringe in her possession leaving Mrs Neville shocked.

According to Garda Beale, at Crescent Quay car park, 71year-old Angela Breen had her handbag stolen. She had been approached by two women and was pushed to the ground leaving her bleeding from the face. She was injured and taken to Wexford General Hospital where she spent five days.

The defendant, he said, had 67 previous convictions.

Describing the assault on elderly people as 'despicable', Judge Doyle imposed a sentence of 18 months on the charge of robbing Angela Breen, suspending the final six months on condition that the defendant enter a bond to come under the care of the Probation and Welfare services for a period of 12 months on release from prison. She marked the other charge taken into consideration.