A man who confronted the people who had stolen his grandma’s bag was punched in the face by a woman and threatened with a bottle by her male accomplice.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Leanne O’Brien and the man had been working together in the theft of the bag, which had been hung on the back of a chair in a pub.

O’Brien, 43, of Pansy Street, Accrington, admitted to theft and assault following the theft of the bag from the Gamull pub in Longridge on January 12.

She was given a 12-month community order with a 15-day rehab activity requirement and 60 hours unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim.

Henry Prescott, prosecuting, said when the woman noticed her bag was missing her grandson recalled a man walking past a little earlier acting suspiciously.

“The grandson ran out of the pub looking for the man,” said Mr Prescott.

“He saw him standing outside a takeaway with the defendant who had the bag under a jacket.

"He challenged them and saw a bottle in the man’s hand and the defendant stepped forward and punched him twice in the face. He returned to the pub with the bag.”

Simon Farnsworth, mitigating, said his client, who had no previous convictions, did not actually go into the pub.

“She knows little of what went on because of how much she had to drink,” said Mr Farnsworth.

“She is appalled by her behaviour which was totally out of character. She has her problems but normally id does not result in behaviour like this.”