A MUM whose little girl choked to death on a lollipop has been sent to jail for nine months for a violent street attack.

Tracey Evans, aged 26, was arrested last February after she attacked another woman and attempted to snatch her handbag.

Two years ago Evans had been left devastated after her five-year-old daughter, Sophie, died when a lollipop she was sucking became lodged in her windpipe as she walked home from school.

Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard how the jobless mother of two was charged after she pounced on Patricia Kennedy as she walked home from bingo in Walkden.

Mrs Kennedy heard footsteps behind her, was grabbed from behind and put in a headlock.

Mrs Kennedy, who is in her late 40s, refused to hand over the handbag and a struggle followed with Evans trying to pull her to the ground. Evans eventually fled empty-handed.

Mrs Kennedy told the court: "I felt terrible -- just distraught. I had been to bingo at the Ellesmere Shopping Centre and was making the quarter of an hour walk home.

"Though it was dark there were street lights and good visibility. Before I knew what was happening she had her arm round my neck and tried to pull me to the floor."

Mrs Kennedy ran home and told her husband, Alexander, what had happened. The couple got into the family car and drove around the area for about 25 minutes trying to find Evans.

They stopped at Little Hulton police station to report the incident and were told to go home and wait for an officer.

On the journey home Mrs Kennedy spotted Evans with another woman on Manchester Road East.

They flagged down a police patrol van parked on a nearby retail park and the officer took them to the bus stop where Evans was identified and arrested.

Evans, of Graymar Road, Little Hulton, was later picked out of an identity parade. She denied attempted robbery but was convicted after a re-trial. She is now 14 weeks pregnant.

Sending Evans to jail for nine months, Recorder Nicholas Hinchliffe, QC, told her she would serve half her sentence meaning her baby would not be born in prison.

He told her: "I cannot overlook the seriousness of this offence. In my judgement the only sentence is one of immediate imprisonment. I do however accept that over the past few years you have had a difficult personal life."

Earlier Evans said she had no need to steal and had been at home with friends at the time of the mugging.

Rachel Shenton, defending, said Evans was put on anti-depressants following Sophie's death and said the tragedy had wrecked her marriage.

The court heard Evans had been divorced several years ago and has two children aged four and six. She is now living with her boyfriend.