Shoplifter who ‘hijacked’ pedestrian in Falkirk fails in her appeal

By JOHN ROBERTSON
Published on 29/09/2012 01:43

Appeal judges have refused to cut a jail term of four years and three months imposed on a woman who drove through crowded streets with a pedestrian clinging to the car bonnet.

Suzanne Gilchrist, 38, of Edinburgh, was suspected of shoplifting in Falkirk and sped off in her car to escape a store detective.

Stuart Morris, 22, happened to be crossing the road and she drove towards him and forced him to jump on to the bonnet of the Vauxhall Corsa. The Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh heard Sheriff Wyllie Robertson allowed a three-month discount to recognise Gilchrist’s plea of guilty.

Defence solicitor-advocate, Simon Collins, argued a discount of up to eight months ought to have been given.

Rejecting that. Lord Eassie said: “It may well be thought the discount was somewhat niggardly but we have come to the view that this was a matter within the sheriff’s discretion.”