A robber pulled a knife on a Good Samaritan shop customer who tried to stop her partner stealing.
Patricia Hymers and Ryan Reynolds had brazenly packed a bag with items and were leaving without paying when they were challenged by staff and customers sought to intervene. When one man grabbed Reynolds, Hymers brandished a blade at him to force him to let him go.
The serial criminal, who has 135 previous convictions, carried out her latest offence at the Shell garage shop, on the Gateshead side of the Redheugh Bridge, on May 21 this year.
Read more: Fenham gunman fired shots towards young children playing in tree near his garden
Newcastle Crown Court heard it was around 4.20pm that the pair, who staff claimed had targeted the shop previously, went there. Having put a substantial amount of goods from fridges into a bag and grabbing a case of beer, they headed for the exit, with Reynolds carrying the bag.
Recorder Mark Giuliani, sentencing Hymers, said: "Members of staff challenged you and customers also intervened. One of those customers is seen on the CCTV to grab Mr Reynolds and detain him.
"You, at that point, did not make good your escape but instead produced a knife and brandished it towards the customer and a member of staff. You caused them to, understandably, back off and you and Mr Reynolds left the area."
Hymers, 37, of Fontwell Drive, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing two knives, which she was seen to dispose of when police found the couple nearby. Reynolds admitted theft but was not at court, having been stabbed in the neck with a bottle.
Hymers was on bail for criminal damage at the time of the robbery, having targeted a neighbour on her street, hitting the front door of a couple with a baby with a hammer and damaging the man's motorbike.
She was jailed for a total of 30 months, of which she was told she will spend no more than half in custody.
Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: "She's extremely sorry for what has taken place. There's a background of mental health issues and she had a tragic upbringing.
"She has been living in a drug-induced stat as a way of getting through. Her former partner died from a drugs overdose. She's a vulnerable lady."
Read next:
- Morpeth pervert with 'Jimmy Savile' email address had vile abuse images including torture and rape
- North Shields rapist who struck hours after victim suffered miscarriage jailed for ten years
- Disgusting Sunderland thug who spat in the faces of nurse and police officer jailed
- Scotswood dance teacher who assaulted boyfriend while on suspended sentence for GBH walks free
- South Shields woman left partner with deep knife wounds to hands in row over TV news story
