A woman who stabbed an Aldi worker with a needle and had sex in public has been spared jail.
Nicola Henderson appeared at Teesside Crown Court for sentencing after previously admitting the assault and a separate charge of public indecency, as well as three counts of theft.
The court heard how the 47-year-old had committed the offences while she was homeless, TeesideLive reported.
However, she now has a roof over her head thanks to a council scheme.
The court heard that in April last year, Henderson, along with another woman, was in the Stockton Aldi store when she was seen placing a bottle of whisky into a large handbag.
Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, said a security guard witnessed the theft and tried to stop her from leaving the store.
As he placed his hand in her bag to try to retrieve the alcohol 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 said: "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.
His also had scars from the injury.
Henderson, of Bridge Road, Stockton, also admitted having sex in a public place in the town in July last year.
Mr Bevan said through a window a child had witnessed, what they thought was two people having a fight outside, and alerted their grandparent.
He 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 has 24 previous convictions for a range of crimes including fraud, theft and prostitution.
However, since being recently placed on a homeless programme with Stockton Council she has not been in trouble and is trying hard to turn her life around.
Judge Christopher Smith said he would defer sentencing until September 5 to give Henderson a chance to show she has changed her ways and the case was adjourned.
He said: "I want to see if you can turn your life around because nobody is going to thank me if the punishment I impose wrecks the progress you have made."
He said if she can continue to keep out of trouble he will impose a suspended sentence, but if not she will be facing custody.
