A motorist searching for a cat she thought had been hit by her car was attacked and stabbed in the stomach with a hypodermic needle.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Cara McCran was attacked while walking down Hawkhill Avenue, Edinburgh searching for the animal.

The attack was one of three that happened on the same day involving serial criminal Richard Sinclair.

Ms McCran was hit from behind and fell backwards onto a grass verge.

As she lay stunned, Richard Sinclair and another unidentified person rifled through her pockets but found nothing to steal.

The terrified victim was then kicked by the pair.

Sinclair, 47, who has numerous convictions for theft, drugs offences and assault, then stuck the hypodermic needle into her stomach.

Ms McCran was in shock, but eventually managed to text a friend who came and took her to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with the needle still in her stomach.

Sinclair, who is a prisoner in Edinburgh Prison, admitted assaulting McCran and attempting to rob her at Hawkhill Avenue, Edinburgh, on May 25.

Prosecutor Gordon Lamont said: "She required to be put on a course of antibiotics for infection and accelerated boosters for hepatitis.

"Sinclair had hepatitis C at the time.

"It was distressing for her, but she did not develop the condition."

Around 10 minutes later, Sinclair and co-accused Louise Millar, 36, were following Jennifer McLean as she walked alone down a street.

She could hear them talking behind her and then Millar, who had a screwdriver in her, hand ran towards her.

Millar grabbed her bag strap, raised the screwdriver and made repeated stabbing motions towards her face.

She then made off with her victim's phone and bag.

Sinclair and Millar admitted assaulting Jennifer McLean by threatening her with a screwdriver and attempting to hit her on the face with it and robbing her of a phone and handbag.

The offence was also committed on May 25 on Hawkhill Avenue, Edinburgh.

Millar also admitted being in possession of a screwdriver.

Both accused also admitted assaulting 63-year-old Alistair Nicol-Smith by presenting a garden tool at him, threatening him and robbing him on a mobile phone and wallet on May 26 at North Junction Street, Edinburgh.

The court heard Mr Nicol-Smith handed over his wallet and took them to a cash machine to prove he had no money in his account.

Sinclair and Millar were caught on CCTV nearby and recognised by police.

Millar, who is a prisoner in Edinburgh Prison, has previous convictions for shoplifting, drug offences and breach of the peace.

Judge Lady Scott deferred sentence on both until next month for background reports.