Middlesbrough woman jailed for blind man knife robbery attempt

Kirsty Lauro was jailed for five years and two months

A "callous" woman who attempted to rob a blind man at knifepoint has been jailed for just over five years.

Kirsty Lauro, 46, targeted the "extremely vulnerable man" minutes after she slashed a woman's finger in an attempted robbery in Middlesbrough, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Lauro was trying to get money for drugs after a breakdown of a relationship, the court heard.

She admitted two attempted robberies and possessing a knife.

'Bravery'

The court heard Lauro approached a woman in Marton Road at about 21:30 BST on 13 August 2023.

She asked her for £1, but when the woman refused Lauro pulled out a kitchen knife with 5in (13cm)-long blade.

There was then a struggle in which the victim suffered a cut to her finger, and as she escaped Lauro shouted to leave her handbag or she would "slash [her] to pieces", prosecutor Nigel Soppitt said.

Judge Richard Bennett said it was only thanks to the victim's "bravery" and the "fact she fought back" that Lauro didn't complete the robbery.

Ten minutes later, a man with a severe visual impairment was walking along the street with the use of a white cane when Lauro approached him.

Mr Soppitt said the man was "almost without sight" when the light faded and it was "obvious" he had a disability.

'Offensive remark'

Lauro, of Wicklow Street in Middlesbrough, told the man she was a "working girl" and had a knife before demanding he hand over his possessions.

When the man said he did not have anything, Lauro insulted him with a slur based around his disability and left.

Judge Bennett said her "offensive remark" demonstrated "hostility bases on his obvious disability" which increased the seriousness of the offence.

"Your actions were callous," the judge told Lauro, adding: "You targeted an extremely vulnerable man."

She was arrested about half an hour later and found in possession of a knife.

Defending, Michele Turner said Lauro's mental health had broken down after a relationship had ended.

Judge Bennett said Lauro, who had 22 convictions for 48 offences, was trying to get money to buy heroine, cocaine and crack cocaine.

She was sentenced to five years and two months in prison.