A woman who attempted to murder a toddler by repeatedly giving her adult medication has been jailed for a minimum of six years.

Laura Docherty, 35, formerly of Glenrothes, gave the girl antidepressant and painkilling drugs resulting in her needing to be resuscitated and placed on a ventilator.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh imposed an order for lifelong restriction and ordered that Docherty must serve a minimum of six years in jail before seeking parole.

Judge Michael O’Grady KC said: “The word ‘wicked’ is an old fashioned word, but there are times when no other word will suffice.”

Docherty had denied attempting to murder the child during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in December, but was unanimously found guilty of the offence by a jury.

She carried out her crime against the child from the age of two between April 2021 and February 2023 at an address in Edinburgh, at a ward at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and elsewhere.

She assaulted and attempted to murder the victim by repeatedly administering drugs to the child which were medications not prescribed for her.

As a result, the victim suffered seizures and episodes of reduced consciousness.

The girl had to be resuscitated, admitted to hospital and put on a ventilator, and she was subjected to medical investigations and procedures.

Sentencing Docherty, the judge told her: “When you are released, if indeed you are ever released, will be a matter for the Scottish parole board.”

He said she would likely spend “a significant period of years in custody”.

O’Grady said it was “absolutely plain” the crime was committed for “attention and drama”.

“You deny your guilt. You accept no responsibility. You show no remorse or insight. You blame others for the situation you find yourself in,” said the judge.

He said on one occasion Docherty came within a “hair’s breadth” of killing the child.

The judge said a paramedic had to use all his skills to bring her back from the point of death while Docherty filmed the incident.

The court heard that a report prepared on Docherty had concluded she has an emotionally unstable personality disorder.

Defence counsel Simon Gilbride argued that she could be dealt with by a substantial fixed jail term followed by a period of supervision in the community.

He said the crime involved “extraordinary behaviour” and added: “She is going to have to address her behaviour in order to have any kind of meaningful future.”