Man, 42, appears in court after 86-year-old woman is attacked and robbed in her Leith home

A 42-year-old man has appeared in court today charged in connection with assaulting and robbing an 86-year-old woman in her Leith home.

Lee Currie appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday and made no plea and has been remanded in custody.

Police said the alleged incident happened in Kirkgate House, Constitution Street, at about 2:25pm on Tuesday February 4th.

Speaking to the Evening News on Wednesday, the woman's great grand-daughter, Terri Smith, said her Nana Lina Rennie is now "absolutely petrified" to leave the house following her ordeal.

The alleged incident took place in Kirkgate House on Tuesday.

The pensioner, who turned 86 last Friday and has early stage dementia, cognitive impairment and uses a walking stick, has been unable to sleep at night.

Her 25-year-old great granddaughter said: "She has lived here for 50 years and nothing like this has ever happened.

"I have just been to see her and she's too scared to even take the bins out this morning. She is still fairly independent and we just feel this has completely robbed her of her independence. She was praying before she went to bed last night."

Terri continued: "Everyone around here knows her (Lina) pretty well and we would never expect something like this to happen. She is so kind and caring and just has a heart of gold.

"I think it's disgusting that someone would do this."

Lina moved to Edinburgh for a better life at the age of 18 from a village near Rome which had been shattered during World War II.

Her husband passed away in 1998 and she lives at home by herself.

A police spokesman said: "A 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery of an 86-year-old woman in Kirkgate House, Constitution Street, Edinburgh, that took place around 2.25pm yesterday (Tuesday, 4 February).

"He is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Wednesday, 5 February)."