A heroin addict mum has been jailed for more than two years for a spate offences including an attack on a supermarket employee who was stabbed in the leg with a hypodermic needle.

Serial shoplifter Gina Barker, 37, was on prison licence in June and July when she committed the latest in a series of crimes which have been motivated by her long-standing heroin addiction.

On June 11 Barker, of Cliffe Road, Bradford, tried to steal bottles of alcohol from a Co-op store in Shipley and when she was challenged by a female member of staff she pulled out a needle and took the cap off with her teeth saying:”I’ve got this. Have this.”

The staff member, who thought she would be stabbed, backed off, but the following month Barker was detained by security staff at the Tesco Extra store in Batley shopping centre during another shoplifting offence.

Prosecutor Andrew Horton told Bradford Crown Court that Barker again pulled out a needle and shouted:”I’ll stab you.”

When staff member Jane Charlotte, 44, tried to help her colleagues Barker thrust forward with the needle, stabbing her in the leg.

The force of blow bent the needle and the complainant had to have a vaccination at Dewsbury hospital.

Mr Horton said the victim would have to wait about six months for the blood test results, but Barker’s barrister Rachim Singh said she had indicated there was nothing which would infect the complainant.

Mr Singh said Barker, who had no previous convictions for violence, had hit “rock bottom” and was immensely apologetic to the woman who had been stabbed.

Barker admitted a series of offences including assault, common assault, theft and threatening a person with a bladed or pointed article.

Judge David Hatton QC said it was a “sad case” which was a living testimony to how an addiction to drugs could ruin a life.

The judge said he had read a “moving” letter from Barker and he hoped that she would be able to turn her life round after serving a prison term totalling two years and 22 weeks.

Judge Hatton said the stabbing of the supermarket employee was a very frightening experience for her and a very dangerous thing to do.

Although the judge declined to make a five-year criminal behaviour order against Barker it is understood that she is already barred from all Sainsbury’s and Co-op stores as well as the Tesco Extra in Batley.