A TEENAGE girl was mugged by a knife-wielding woman -- who had a baby in her arms.

A court heard drug addict Debbie Kearns, 23, had a four-inch blade in her right hand and held the 18-month old infant in her right arm.

Kearns, of Grimshaw Street, Accrington, held the knife to the terrified 16-year-old's throat and demanded her bags in Burnley town centre.

The defendant, who had been "fuelled" by her addiction to heroin and cocaine, left her victim anxious, nervous and suffering loss of the confidence after the attack in October, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Kearns was yesterday jailed for 40 months after she admitted robbery.

Judge Barbara Watson told her: "It's difficult to think of more serious and distressing circumstances for the victim."

The judge added Kearns had a good upbringing but her life had gone awry because of drugs. She was said to have little insight into the impact of her behaviour.

Judge Watson continued: "This is the kind of offence which causes the public to be afraid to walk into the streets of this town. The public, rightly, expects protection from the courts."

David Macro, prosecuting, told how the victim and her friend had been going home at about 7.40pm. As they walked near the Hollywood Star cinema they noticed a man and a woman with a pram.

The girls stepped back to let the couple pass and the defendant, who then had the baby on her hip, pushed the victim back into the corner of a bus stop. Kearns had the infant in her right arm.

She told the girl: "I have got a knife. If you don't want me to use it, give me your bags."

The teen student froze and Kearns then put the knife to her throat and took two bags from the girl's shoulder.

The victim's bag had contained keys, a purse, a bank card and a camera. Martin Hackett,

defending, said Kearns had been taking heroin and crack cocaine at the time but if she could deal with her problem she need not appear before the courts again.

He said Kearns was now going to be apart from her child. She had been on remand for 40 days and had done a voluntary detox programme. He added: "It seems like she is trying to deal with her addiction. If she can, she can be a useful member of society."