A WOMAN detained as she tried to steal a trolley load of goods kicked two members of staff.

Blackburn magistrates heard Carol Pounder was stopped because the trolley she was pushing triggered an electronic alarm because it had not been through the checkout.

Pounder, 55, of Tabor Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol and flowers to the value of £173 from Sainsbury's, Colne and assaulting two members of staff.

She was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

She was made subject to six six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of the members of staff.

Pounder is the mother of Adam Rickwood, who died in a secure training centre aged 14 in 2004. An inquest jury later ruled centre staff had acted unlawfully during his detention.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said the court had to treat assaults on staff who were simply doing their job seriously.

“I have taken into account that you don’t have a record for violence and also accept that at the time you were in emotional anguish,” said District Judge Preston.

David Lawson, defending, said there had been a conviction a couple of months before the latest incident but before that, there had been a gap of two years.

“There is a history of addictive issues compounded by domestic abuse and the tragic circumstances in which her son took his own life,” said Mr Lawson.

“The day of the offence coincided with the anniversary of her son’s death and she had taken cocaine.

“When I met her this morning she was very pleased with herself because she was four weeks drug-free, having been working with Inspire.”