Steak-knife stabber jailed after breaching suspended sentence by stealing from Tesco

The sentence imposed on Jessica Magee was imposed for stabbing a man with a steak knife.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said it would send out ‘entirely the wrong message’ if he did not activate the sentence on Magee.

Teesside Crown Court heard Magee breached the suspended sentence by stealing from shops and committing other offences.

The court heard Magee walked into Tesco in Belle Vue Way, Hartlepool, and took some tablets from the shelves.

“She then selected an iced coffee,” said Sean Dryden, prosecuting.

“She took some of the tablets while drinking the coffee.

“Staff then observed her trying to swap the tags on some items of clothing.”

The court was told Magee was given a 20-month suspended sentence in December. 2014 for unlawful wounding.

“She bit the victim before stabbing him in the arm with a steak knife,” Mr Dryden added.

Magee, of Church Street, Hartlepool, admitted theft, breach of a suspended sentence, and breach of a community order imposed for other offences of theft.

Laurie Scott, defending, said in mitigation: “Ms Magee had a very troubled upbringing.

“She has been in the care system from a very young age.

“She has mental health difficulties, and has been sectioned in the past.

“One of her biggest difficulties is drug addiction, but she is keen to do something about that.

“There was a period of a year when she was offence free.”

Judge Ashurst sentenced Magee to 12 months in a young offenders’ institution.

The judge told her: “You have all but ignored the community part of your sentences.

“A judge at this court gave you yet another chance not so long ago.

“I am aware you have problems, but punishment must now come first.

“You should take advantage of the help available to you in custody, and after your release.”