A WOMAN who was stunned with a taser gun after a three-hour New Year's Day stand-off has avoided jail.

Sarah Balmbra, 22, had armed herself with two knives and threatened to stab herself and officers after a cocktail of drink and prescribed medication, Burnley Magistrates heard.

Negotiators were called in to calm her and she ended up being shot by police with a taser gun.

Balmbra, who lives at Rydal Close, Padiham, was said to be fragile after a series of traumatic events in her life.

She pleaded guilty to affray and possessing an offensive weapon and was sentenced to a community order and 24 months supervision order and £65 court costs.

David Hartley, prosecuting, told the court at 9.20pm on January 1 the defendant started shouting at a 17-year-old male, blaming him for putting her dad in hospital, as she walked along Thirlmere Avenue, Padiham.

She had repeatedly spat in his face before kicking a gate and fence.

The court heard how after the youth went inside his house she started to bang on the doors and windows and made threats.

She left and walked down a ginnel where she carried on shouting abuse at passers-by.

Mr Hartley said: "At 9.30pm the police received a call reporting a woman walking down Bowness Street throwing bricks at a house.

"When officers arrived at the scene she was stood in front of three girls holding a knife in each hand.

"The girls were hysterical, obviously concerned about what was happening. A police officer took hold of the children and then the defendant became agitated, pacing around holding the knives pointing them at an officer.

"She screamed saying stay back or I will stab someone'.

The prosecutor said more police patrols were called and Balmbra continued shouting. When more officers arrived she put a knife against her own throat and said if anyone went close she would stab herself.

Balmbra moved nearer to the officers, continuing to threaten them. Police with shields were called in and negotiators spent a long time trying to reason with her. At 12.15am, the defendant threw the knives to the ground, started to walk towards the police and then looked as if she was going to pick the weapons up again.

Officers used a taser gun on her and Balmbra was arrested, cautioned and apologised. She had two previous convictions.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said Balmbra had been struggling to cope with a number of upsetting incidents in her recent past.

She had been attacked in May 2005 in Cumbria and the lady who went to hospital with her was later murdered. She had suffered immense psychological damage and had also spilt up with her boyfriend before Christmas.

On the day of the incident she had drunk a large amount of alcohol while at the time she was being prescribed various anti-depressants.

Mr Bradshaw said: "She can remember very little of the incident and has apologised a number of times for her behaviour.

"She is hopeful that she can move on from this and start to re-build her life."