A JEDBURGH woman stole an 84-year-old woman’s handbag, the town’s sheriff court has been told.

The pensioner had left the bus in Jedburgh for a brief moment to deliver a birthday present to a friend.

But when she returned to her seat to complete the journey, between Hawick and Kelso, her bag containing a purse, bank cards, and £240 in cash was missing.

Toni Storey was spotted leaving the vehicle at the bus station with the items but, when cautioned and charged by police in relation to the incident on April 6 she replied: “Not guilty”.

The 41-year-old, who lives in Blair Avenue, Jedburgh, changed her plea to guilty when the case came to court.

She also admitted assaulting a female police officer called to a disturbance in the Bongate on September 5 by repeatedly kicking the cell door of a police vehicle, crushing the Constable’s hand – causing bruising to her hand and wrist.

In addition, Storey pleaded guilty to behaving in an aggressive manner and making offensive remarks at The Spar in Lothian Road, Jedburgh, on November 21 last year.

Her solicitor, Mat Patrick, said his client had a drug problem but told him she is now clean.

Sheriff Peter Paterson made Storey the subject of an 18-month Community Payback Order with supervision requirements in relation to the charges of assault and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.

He deferred sentence on the theft until December 5 when he will review her progress.