A woman 'punched and bit' retail staff when they tried to stop her stealing.

The court heard Ashleigh Kane, 27, stole seven items and on more than one occasion in June and that she would become abusive and threatening to staff.

On two occasions, it was said Kane assaulted staff, punching them and biting them, including an off-duty police officer who went to assist retail staff.

Kane, of Ambleside Road, Lancaster, was handed an eight month prison sentence by a district judge at Lancaster Magistrates' Court on Thursday (August 22).

She was also served a two-year criminal behaviour order prohibiting her from entering any retail store in Lancaster city centre, prohibiting her from being abusive towards any retail employee, and prohibiting her from assaulting any retail employee.

Community beat manager for Lancaster city centre PC Shaun Foster said: “Under Operation Vulture, we take a zero tolerance approach to those individuals in our community who steal from our local businesses, especially those who are abusive and violent towards our retail workers who are only trying to do their job.

"We will always try to take positive action and put them before the courts. It is good to see on this occasion the courts agreeing to issue a court order to target Kane’s behaviour in the long term."