A MUSSELBURGH man who tried to rob a 74-year-old woman and two others on the same night in Musselburgh has been jailed for more than three years.

Lee Rutherford first attacked a man by pushing him against a vehicle, causing him to fall to the ground, at the town’s Eskside East on June 3 last year.

The attacker, of Stoneybank Avenue, demanded money from the man and threatened to “cut him with a knife” if he did not comply.

But the victim refused to hand over any of his belongings and Rutherford fled the area empty-handed.

He then attacked a 55-year-old woman by approaching her from behind and dragging her to the ground at Goose Green Crescent in Musselburgh.

Rutherford, 29, was said to have “pulled her back violently” and he managed to make off with the woman’s red designer Michael Kors handbag.

The attacker was wearing a black hooded top and had his face covered with a mask during the assault.

The victim managed to get up and chase after Rutherford but he was soon lost to sight.

Residents who overheard screaming spotted the robber running away from the scene carrying the distinctive bag.

Later on the same evening, Rutherford then attacked a 74-year-old woman by seizing her by the neck from behind and demanding money from her at the town’s New Street.

The woman refused to give into his demands and Rutherford again ran away from the scene.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Rutherford was pleading guilty to further offences, including threatening to set fire to a local newsagents after he had been refused service.

Rutherford turned up at the Monktonhall Newsagents in a drunken state and, after having his card declined, he “asked for tick”.

The shopkeeper refused and Rutherford turned violent and issued threats to burn the shop down on March 26 last year.

He also admitted to charges of threatening to stab police officers after he had been arrested the previous day.

The court was told that Rutherford shouted, swore and uttered threats of violence, and during the incident he was said to have been “struggling and snarling” towards the officers.

He was taken to St Leonard’s Police Station in Edinburgh, where he continued his tirade and was seen to be spitting at two constables.

He told one officer he would use her as “target practice” before he was “taken to the ground” during a violent 10-minute struggle.

Further offences he admitted to included acting aggressively and uttering offensive remarks at an address at The Granary in Haddington on March 31.

Sheriff Douglas Keir heard the full written narration during last Tuesday’s court hearing and decided to defer all matters to the Friday to decide on a suitable sentence.

Rutherford returned to the dock from custody on Friday, where Sheriff Keir jailed him for a total of 37 months, backdated to June 6 last year.