A woman "did a little dance" after being caught having sex in public by a child. The youngster saw Nicola Henderson committing the lewd act through a window and told their grandparent the people outside were fighting.
However the grandparent realised immediately what they were doing and police were called. Henderson later went on to stab a shop security guard with a needle in Aldi after being spotted putting a bottle of whisky into a handbag.
The 48-year-old appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday for sentencing. She had been given a last chance to prove she could improve her behaviour by a judge in May.
The court was told how Henderson carried out a series of offences when she was homeless last year, reports Teesside Live. It had been told previously how in April, last year, Henderson, along with another woman, was caught putting the whisky into a bag in the Stockton Aldi store.
Christopher Bevan prosecuting, said a security guard spotted what she was doing and stepped in to stop her from leaving the store. but when he put his hand inside the bag to get back the bottle she stabbed him with a needle.
He said: "He felt two sharp scratches, like injuries with a needle. He was left with two puncture marks."
Mr Bevan added: "She said she did not recall stabbing him with the needle, but she did say she had it because she was a drug addict and told officers she had previously had hepatitis C." He said the victim said he was left very worried and depressed by the incident and had had to give up his job in retail security.
The victim also had scars from the injury. Judge Christopher Smith described the incident as “unpleasant” as Henderson caused the security staff member an “extraordinary amount of worry”.
Henderson, of Bridge Road, Stockton, also admitted having sex in a public place in the town in July last year. Mr Bevan said the child had been looking through the window when they witnessed, what they thought was two people having a fight outside, and alerted their grandparent.
The prosecutor said: "The grandmother said it was clear these two people were having sex in a public place. Another woman appeared and started shouting at the pair.
"The male got dressed and ran off, but the female took her time getting dressed and did a little dance." He said police were called and when they tracked down the pair they were both heavily intoxicated.
Henderson also pleaded guilty to stealing £16.75 worth of alcohol from Sainsbury's in Middlesbrough, on July 14, last year and stealing household items to the value of £79.13, together with a male, from B&M in Redcar on December 17, last year.
The court heard that Henderson - who has a “troubled background” - has 24 previous convictions for a range of crimes including fraud, theft and prostitution. However, since being placed on a homeless programme with Stockton Council she has not been in trouble and is trying hard to turn her life around.
Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, stated that Henderson has not been in any further trouble since she was last before the courts in May. Speaking directly to Henderson, Judge Smith told her he has to sentence her for a “raft of offences” she “got up to last year”. He told how the defendant has a “got a bit of history” with stealing.
Judge Smith also stated: “You also were so intoxicated you lost your sense of self and were seen having sex in public. Last year wasn't a good year at all.
"It has got to be a prison sentence. Whether you serve it is not up to me, it’s up to you.”
However, as she has been “doing very well over the last few months”, Judge Smith suspended her 18 month prison sentence for 18 months. Henderson must also complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
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