Troubled Hartlepool woman threatened medical workers with razor blade

Emergency services attended Samantha Allison’s home last April when she was in an extremely distressed state.

She produced a razor blade when a paramedic tried to help her before she was restrained and taken to Stockton’s North Tees hospital with self-inflicted injuries.

Once at the hospital she continued to lash out at staff by kicking and trying to bite them.

Allison, 28, had also managed to hide razor blades in her hands.

She was subsequently charged with affray and possessing a bladed article in public which she admitted.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said: “She appeared to be a very troubled individual with complex mental health issues.

"Her threatening the crew and the care professionals didn’t seem to be premeditated. She appears to have wanted help.”

The court heard she had no previous convictions and her condition has improved a lot since.

Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said: “There’s been massive improvement with engagement.”

The judge, Recorder David Kelly, accepted Allison, of Bruce Crescent, Hartlepool, was suffering a mental disturbance at the time.

She was made the subject of a two-year community order with 40 probation rehabilitation days and a mental health treatment requirement.

Recorder Kelly said: “That is to help you on the road to recovery.

"I’m satisfied that these offences do not cross the custody threshold.

"The appropriate sentence is a community based sentence.”

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