Four attacked in women's eight-hour, drug-fuelled crime spree

Four people were attacked during an eight-hour, drug-fuelled crime spree involving two women, the High Court in Edinburgh has heard.

A woman and two taxi drivers were assaulted before a man was left with potentially life threatening injuries in a knife attack. The incidents happened in Inverness over 24 and 25 June last year.

Gemma Robertson, 40 - who has 63 previous convictions - was jailed for four years and eight months while her co-accused, 24-year-old Erin Birse - who has 37 previous convictions - will spend two years and three months in prison.

Both women will also be subject to a non-harassment order.

The women, both from Inverness, had earlier admitted robbing a woman at a house in the city's Rosehaugh Road after Robertson had assaulted her.

They also pled guilty to assaulting and robbing a taxi driver in Mackintosh Road.

Birse also admitted assaulting and robbing a taxi driver in Rosehaugh Road.

The women further pleaded guilty to assaulting a man to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life in a knife attack at an address in Beechwood Road the following day.

They also robbed the man.

Both women were on bail at the time of the attacks.

The court previously heard that the women committed the offences over the space of an evening and night while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The knife attack on the women's final victim was "serious and potentially life threatening", the court was told.

Robertson and Birse were arrested by police in the early hours of 25 June at Inverness' Longman Road.

Judge Lord Harrower told Robertson: "Your offending has increased in seriousness, and in recent years has involved five prison sentences for assault and assault to injury, for periods of between three and 11 months."

He added: "The social work report refers to long-standing mental health concerns, and it is clear that your dependency on drugs has played a significant part in your offending."

Lord Harrower told Birse her criminal career was "much shorter", but included a conviction for assault to injury in 2019 and a recent conviction for robbery.