A drug addict whose shoplifting spree saw her threaten to physically attack, punch and 'stab people with a needle' says she is now "too old for all of this". Primark, M&S and Hillstreet, Middlesbrough's popular shopping mall were visited by 43-year-old Kendra Gibson as she picked up items and sought to evade payment by bypassing tills and walking straight out of the door.
Gibson's activities which included 'tugs of war' - where she clung onto items whilst struggling shop assistants tried to retrieve them by pulling in the other direction - saw her spend two weeks in custody. During a visit to Primark, she took off her shoes, placed them under a display and picked up a new pair whilst trying to make off wearing them.
Teesside Magistrates' Court heard how Gibson's recent crime spree began on January 8. She picked up shaving foam, socks and gloves to the value of £10, from One Beyond Store in Hillstreet shopping mall and headed towards the door, reports TeessideLive.
Heather Willis, prosecuting, said Gibson was stopped and asked for the stock to be returned. She said: "Gibson threatened to punch them and they therefore didn't attempt to stop her any further."
The next day, Gibson entered M&S, in Linthorpe Road. A member of staff was on his break when he saw her walking towards the door with her arms full of nightwear.
He tried to stop her and a "tug of war" began. She broke free and left the store.
The items worth £220 were recovered, the court heard. The same day she walked into Primark and was caught on CCTV swapping her shoes for a new £28 pair and making for the door.
When confronted she hurled verbal abuse. A customer service manager at the Hill Street Shopping Centre tried to reason with her but she began flailing her arms around and struck him on the left temple.
Another shop assistant took hold of her feet and removed one of the shoes. The other shoe was recovered and a second stolen pair was found in her bag.
She then threw a pen at one staff member which hit him in the face. On January 15, Gibson entered Wilko's in Captain Cook Square and picked up £50 worth of make-up from the cosmetics aisle.
As she went to leave the store she was challenged by a member of staff and another "tug of war" broke out. Ms Willis said: "The defendant then moved her mouth to above his hand, making him believe he was going to be bitten."
The court heard he then moved his hands and Gibson raised her fist in the air bring it down on his hands in a "hammer strike" which caused him to release his grip. Gibson continued to threaten members of staff and even shouted "I'll stab you with this needle".
All of the items, bar the original haul worth £10 from One Beyond, were recovered. Neil Douglas, representing Gibson, admitted this was a "difficult case to mitigate".
He said: "Ms Gibson is currently subject to a community order that did not appear to achieve any impact on her behaviour. You can probably detect an escalation."
He said the defendant has an addiction to crack cocaine. She lost her sister last year which has a huge impact on her and she is dealing with grief by turning to drugs, the court heard.
Mr Douglas added: "She has been in prison, not for a long time but it has given her a break. She has obviously been drug-free for two weeks, she feels a lot better for that."
"She has herself professed that she is 'too old for all of this'," said Mr Douglas. "She can see now because she has broken out of that cycle."
Gibson pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by beating, one count of using threatening behaviour to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence and four counts of theft.
