A mother heard her daughter being attacked and robbed over the phone.

Brian Auchterlonie, 27, a prisoner at Saughton, had previously admitted assaulting robbing 32-year old Casey Thomson on July 12 and was jailed for 40 months at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Ms Thomson's mother, who was talking to the victim on her mobile phone, was horrified when she hear her daughter call out: "Mum, mum, I'm being mugged".

Sentence had been deferred for a background report and risk assessment.

Fiscal depute Gerard Drugan told Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC that Ms Thomson was talking to her mother on her mobile phone as she made her way from George Street to Rutland Square in the early evening.

The fiscal said: "It was unusually quiet."

Ms Thomson had two bags over her shoulder. She glanced behind her and saw a man approaching her.

He demanded she hand over her bags and there was a struggle, during which he repeatedly struck her on the face and head.

Ms Thomson tried to defend herself then told him: "I am going to give you my purse".

She managed to get her purse and handed it to Auchterlonie to stop the attacks. He grabbed it and ran off.

The fiscal said the attack lasted only 80 seconds and all that time the victim's mobile was still active and her mother heard her crying: "Mum, mum, I'm being mugged".

The woman, who was covered in blood, was treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Police examined CCTV footage and saw Auchterlonie hiding as his victim walked past, running after her, carrying out the attack and running away.

He had also dropped a pen, which provided DNA evidence.

Defence solicitor Steve Donald told Sheriff Welsh his client had no recollection of the incident.

Auchterlonie, he said, was currently subject to a supervised release order.

Mr Donald added: "It is not my intention to ask your lordship to deal with this other than by custody".

Sheriff Welsh said in the recent past Auchterlonie had committed four assault and robbery and assault to injury offences.

Following the attack, police appealed for the public's help in their investigation. Officers said information from the public was key to the conviction.

Detective constable Alison Wyllie said: "I am very grateful for the public response to the media appeal. As a result of this appeal we received information that ultimately led to his arrest and conviction."