A TERRIFIED schoolgirl fled a Bradford bus after a woman heroin addict seized her round the throat to rob her, a court heard.

The 16-year-old victim, who was in her school uniform, was grabbed from behind by Julia Mongan as she travelled home from Bradford city centre.

The teenager was on her own at the back of the bus, listening to music on headphones, when Mongan moved closer to her, on May 20 last year.

Mongan, 26, then of Wallingford Mount, Allerton, Bradford, tried to steal the girl's phone from her blazer pocket.

When the girl spotted her and challenged her about what she was doing, Mongan grabbed her round the throat with both hands and demanded that she handed over the phone.

Bradford Crown Court was told that the teenager struggled free. She was very frightened and got off the bus.

When she told her parents, the police were alerted and Mongan was recognised from CCTV on the bus and arrested soon afterwards.

She made no comment when questioned by the police and an arrest warrant was issued when she failed to attend court in October.

Mongan was re-arrested and pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and a Bail Act offence.

She had previous convictions for racially aggravated assault and drunk and disorderly behaviour.

The court heard that her victim now felt afraid to travel on buses.

Mongan's barrister, Stephen Couch, said she had turned her life around since committing the offence.

She had moved in with her mother in Blackburn and was no longer taking heroin.

Mongan had sought help from the Inspire Project after spending time in custody.

The judge, Recorder Duncan Smith, sentenced her to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He told her: "You seem to have found your way back."

Mongan was now taking the heroin substitute Methadone after making huge efforts to start a new drug-free life away from Bradford.