A woman who armed herself with a kitchen knife during a street confrontation has been given a chance to reform herself and remain clean of drugs.

Zoe Jeffery appeared at Durham Crown Court accused of threatening a person with a blade or sharp-pointed article and possessing a knife or bladed article in public.

The court was told it stemmed from a street confrontation with a man in Horden, on July 3 this year.

A brief piece of video footage was played to the hearing in which a man could be seen approaching a house in Twelfth Street where Jeffery was standing outside, along with two or three other people, thought to be either friends or neighbours.

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The defendant was briefly seen to produce a knife, holding it in her hand as the male she confronted returned to a vehicle which had pulled up nearby.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said Jeffery and another man were initially heard shouting “shut your window” to the occupants of the vehicle.

Mr Sabiston said it appeared that Jeffery went outside and drew the knife, while shouting abuse towards the male who had emerged from the car, but she was arrested shortly afterwards.

The 26-year-old defendant, of Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery, denied the knife threat charge, but admitted simple possession of a bladed article, at a plea hearing earlier this month.

Those pleas were accepted by the Crown and a formal not guilty verdict was recorded for the charge relating to the threat.

The sentencing hearing was told Jeffery has 32 previous convictions, including public order matters, assaulting emergency workers and criminal damage.

Judge Jo Kidd said although the knife seemed to be, “of some length”, she accepted its presence in the incident before the court, “was not likely to risk serious public disorder”, as one of her friends, or a neighbour, was seen to, “quite sensibly pull her away”.

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The judge referred to the pre-sentence probation report in which the defendant told the author that she picked up the knife from her kitchen and placed it in her waistband.

“Clearly there was something that happened beforehand when the car pulled up which may have involved shouting across the street.

“It seems to me that it (the knife) was picked up in the kitchen on this day and that she doesn’t habitually wander around with a knife in her waistband.

“It also looks like she was quickly calmed down by friends or neighbours.”

Before defence counsel Vic Laffey could address the court in mitigation, Judge Kidd said she was minded to follow the recommendation of the report and would impose a suspended prison sentence, with rehabilitation activity days overseen by the Probation Service.

She told Jeffery: “This case does pass the custodial threshold.

“But I have to consider if your risk can be managed in the community by addressing your drug abuse and temper.

“You need to understand how serious this case is and that a prison sentence is hanging over you.”

Judge Kidd imposed a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, during which Jeffery must attend 45 rehabilitation activity days, and undergo a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

It will include monthly return visits to court to check her compliance and she must also complete a probation-run “Thinking Skills” accredited programme.

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The judge warned the defendant: “It means you need to comply with every request made of you.

“Breach any aspect and you will go to prison.”

Jeffery’s first monthly compliance report hearing will take place at the court on September 21.