'Sweating' thief with 287 offences walks free after assaulting shop worker who tried to stop her stealing

Lisa Bulmer, 48, had gone into an Iceland store in Gateshead on August 5 and put the two items in a bag she was carrying over her shoulder.

Newcastle Crown Court heard a worker who saw what she had done challenged her in a bid to get the jars back.Bulmer became so hot and irate she had spit flying out of her mouth during the confrontation.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said: "The defendant became abusive and told her the jars were not from Iceland.

"The defendant tried to barge her way out of the shop and pushed her (the worker) on the arm."

The court heard when the employee continued to try and get the coffee back, Bulmer took them out of her bag and smashed them on the floor.

Mr Pallister added: "She states the defendant was sweating and shouting so much she had spit flying out of her mouth."

The court heard Bulmer's long criminal record includes four convictions against he person and 173 for theft and similar offences.

Mr Pallister said: "She has an appalling record of stealing from shops."

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Bulmer, of Prince Concort Road, Gateshead, who was on a community order at the time of the offences, admitted theft and assault by beating.

Mairi Clancy, defending, said at the time of the offences Bulmer was "desperate" as her partner had just been sent to custody and she was homeless.

Miss Clancy told the court Bulmer is "devastated" by her behaviour and added: "She went to the shop to steal to get money."

Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker sentenced her to a two-year community order with rehabilitation requirements and said: "If she persists in shoplifting the court will have no alternative but to pass prison sentences."

The court heard Bulmer, who has been in custody on remand, has been engaged with a key worker and told the court herself: "I'm going to stick in with my order."