A West Yorkshire woman who violently mugged her elderly partner on a bus whilst calling him a “dirty dog” and threatened to “knock the jaw off” a Good Samaritan has been jailed for 27 months.
Katie Bland, 31, of Cross Hills Mount, Greetland, launched the terrifying broad daylight attack on her partner in his 70s after tracking him down to Halifax bus station on 6 January 2025. The assault culminated in her forcibly withdrawing £40 from his bank account to fund her drug habit.
Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday how Bland’s volatile relationship with the pensioner reached breaking point when she discovered his whereabouts at around 4pm after he had left following an argument.
Violent Bus Station Confrontation
Prosecutor Nathan Davis told the court that after the victim left their home, Bland would repeatedly call him being abusive and demanding money. When she learned he was at Halifax bus station, she travelled there and launched into a tirade of abuse.
“She was abusive, calling him a racist word and a dirty dog,” Mr Davis said. “She grabbed the collar of his coat and threw him around, demanding money.”
The court heard that when the elderly man offered Bland £20, she refused and demanded his bank card instead. When he declined to hand it over and suggested they go to a cash machine together, she became increasingly violent during the journey.
Bland began kicking him in the leg and screaming at him as shocked members of the public looked on. The attack, which lasted approximately 10 minutes, was captured on CCTV footage described by prosecutors as providing clear evidence of the assault.
Good Samaritan Threatened
When a female bystander witnessed the abuse and attempted to intervene, Bland turned her aggression towards her. The court heard Bland grabbed the woman by her scarf and threatened that if she “didn’t shut the f*** up” she would “knock her jaw off.”
Despite the intervention, Bland continued her assault on the elderly man and successfully forced him to withdraw £40 from his bank account before police arrived at the scene.
When arrested, Bland answered “no comment” during her police interview. She later pleaded guilty to robbery, assault by beating, fraud by false representation, and blackmail.
Victim’s Devastating Impact Statement
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement read to the court, the elderly man revealed the profound effect Bland’s behaviour had on his life.
“I have never been so depressed or worried in all of my life,” he said. “I wake up and don’t know how she is going to be. I get abused daily. I lost all of my friends for my relationship.”
The victim described how friends had warned him about Bland’s behaviour and her demands for money to buy drugs. “Her behaviour in the last weeks has become worse. It has affected me to the point I want to give up with life,” he stated.
“I never want to come home due to the mess she has left in my house,” he added, painting a picture of domestic misery and fear.
Extensive Criminal History
The court heard that Bland, who appeared via video link from HMP New Hall, had nine previous convictions for 25 offences. Significantly, she was already subject to a suspended sentence for another robbery at the time of these offences.
Her criminal history included snatching an 87-year-old woman’s handbag, demonstrating what the judge described as a troubling pattern of exploiting vulnerable individuals.
The court was told that Bland had frequently threatened to report her partner for rape as a means of extortion, using these threats to extract money from him to fund her crack cocaine addiction.
Drug Addiction and Mitigation
Mitigating, barrister Shila Whitehead told the court that Bland had been in custody since January and acknowledged the impact of her addiction.
“She said she is aware her behaviour towards him was unacceptable and she is willing to accept help,” Ms Whitehead said. “She accepts at the time of committing these offences she was using drugs and was heavily dependent on them.”
The court heard that during her seven months in custody, Bland had become drug-free and was seeking help for her addiction issues. She offered an apology in court and expressed her intention to improve her behaviour.
Judge’s Sentencing Remarks
Recorder Gordon, presiding over the case, described Bland’s actions as deeply troubling and highlighted her pattern of exploiting vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly victims.
The judge noted the activation of Bland’s previous suspended sentence alongside the new offences, resulting in a total sentence of 27 months imprisonment. The sentence reflected both the serious nature of the current offences and her failure to comply with the suspended sentence order.
Pattern of Elder Abuse
The case has raised concerns about the targeting of vulnerable elderly people in domestic relationships. West Yorkshire Police have not commented specifically on this case, but the force regularly emphasises the importance of reporting domestic abuse and elder abuse.
Support organisations note that financial exploitation of elderly partners often goes hand-in-hand with other forms of abuse, including physical violence and emotional manipulation.
The victim in this case did not seek a restraining order against Bland, despite the severe impact on his wellbeing and quality of life described in his statement.
Community Impact
The attack occurred in broad daylight at Halifax bus station, a busy public transport hub serving the Calderdale area. The brazen nature of the assault, witnessed by multiple members of the public, has highlighted concerns about public safety and the willingness of offenders to commit violent crimes in full view of others.
The intervention of the female bystander, who risked her own safety to help the elderly victim, demonstrates the importance of community action in protecting vulnerable individuals, though police always advise caution when intervening in violent situations.
Bland will serve half of her 27-month sentence in custody before being released on licence, standard practice for determinate sentences in England and Wales. Upon release, she will be subject to strict licence conditions and could be recalled to prison if she breaches them.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
