A WOMAN caught shoplifting just three days after being given a suspended prison sentence has been jailed for 20 weeks.

Sarah Balmbra appeared before Blackburn magistrates on two charges of shoplifting and the court heard that on both occasions she threatened to stab members of staff with a needle.

Balmbra, 33, of Hobart Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to theft from Tesco and Marks and Spencer and two charges of assault and asked for three offences of shoplifting to be taken into account.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said the assaults were as a result of the fear of violence and not through any physical contact.

"On both these occasions she threatened to stab members of staff with a needle," said Miss Akhtar. "She was detained at one store but was able to escape from the other after making the threat."

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said his client had been the victim of a vicious and brutal assault in a graveyard in 2005. The culprit was not prosecuted and he said that started a cycle of mental health issues, inappropriate relationship and drug abuse.

"I have watched her deteriorate over the last decade and a half," said Mr Bradshaw.

"If life had dealt her a different hand she could have been anything she wanted. She is a woman with a brain who no doubt had talent and promise as a youngster.

"As a result of an incident over which she had no control her life has taken a different turn," he said.