A drug addicted shoplifter who threatened to stab a member of staff with a needle has been given two months to prove she has cleaned herself up.

Sally Winter lunged towards the shop worker when they tried to stop her stealing two bottles of whisky.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the man didn’t see a needle in the hand of the 39-year-old but his fear was real.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said the shop worker recognised Winter when she entered the Co-op in Marske, east Cleveland, and decided to keep a close eye on her.

She said: “He moved towards her to prevent her stealing two bottles of whisky worth £44.

“She threatened to stick him up, she lunged towards him with her arm outstretched before she left the shop.”

The Northern Echo: The Co-op shop in MarskeThe Co-op shop in Marske (Image: Google)

Ms Masters said the shop worker never actually saw a needle in the defendant’s hand but feared that she could have been holding one.

Winter, formerly of Wheatacre Close, Marske, east Cleveland, pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery following he incident on February 2 this year.

Michele Turner, mitigating, urged the judge to consider an Intensive Supervision Court (ISC) order to address her client’s drug addiction.

Judge Chris Smith told Winter that the terms of an ISC order were far more onerous than a drug rehabilitation requirement order and deferred sentence for two-months to assess whether she was up to the challenge.

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He said: “You must attend all appointments and take part in the unpaid work to keep you busy but crucially you must attend appointments at the court.”

Winter told the judge that she was ‘embarrassed and ashamed’ of her behaviour on the day and assured him that she was determined to kick her habit.

She added: “I really do want to be clean and start my life again.”

Winter will return to court on July 17 for sentence.