A woman threatened a shopkeeper with an imitation firearm after she was caught shoplifting. The weapon was described as looking like a small black handgun.
Natalie Price, 38, attended the Londis store in Newport on February 4 last year when she was spotted stealing a bottle of wine by Niruban Thirumuruhan. He told her to leave the shop but she returned later that day brandishing the weapon.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard the defendant took the firearm from her rucksack and brandished it around the store before leaving. She was arrested the same day by police at her home in Scott Close, Gaer, and made full admissions.
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She was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. But on August 25 she was arrested again for possession of cannabis and obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty. The court heard she had completed an alcohol abstinence monitoring programme but had only completed four days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and had missed appointments.
In mitigation the court was told Price had "emotional problems" regarding her relationship and abuse experience as a child. Defence barrister Jeffrey Jones also said the defendant had difficulty talking due to a hearing impairment.
Judge Daniel Williams said he was unable to extend her community order as it was "no longer workable" and told the defendant he would activate the suspended sentence in part. Price was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment.
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