Darwen gun woman said 'Give me vodka'

Wearing a dressing gown, Karen Wilkinson entered Garden Village Store in Darwen and pointed the gun at Shoaib Iqbal, demanding: 'Give me some vodka or I'll shoot you'.

He tried to hand her a bottle but she refused and demanded a bigger one. He put a litre bottle on the counter but she would not take it and became agitated, Preston Crown Court heard.

Fearing for his life, he ended up grabbing the barrel of the gun and tried to point it away from him. A nearby resident ran in and saw the two struggling. He grabbed hold of the defendant, managing to throw her to the floor.

Wilkinson, 46, of Thompson Street, Darwen, was sentenced yesterday (Wed) for attempted robbery and possession of a firearm. She was jailed for a total of sixteen months.

Wilkinson had been a regular customer at the shop prior to the offence on August 12 this year.

Miss Kirsten McAteer, prosecuting, told the court that because Mr Iqbal knew her, he initially thought she would not do anything, even though she was carrying what looked like an air rifle.

Miss McAteer said "She became more threatening and aggressive and saying 'I'll do it, I'll do it'. Her actions changed.

"She started to point the gun right at him and she seemed to be looking for the trigger."

The air rifle belonged to her husband and it had been taken out of its place in the home where it had been locked away.

She told police she had no money at the time and had been desperate for a drink. The barrel of the rifle was empty of pellets.

Mr Richard Prew, defending, told the court that ironically, her husband and two children had flown to Egypt at the time for an all inclusive holiday. She stayed behind due to her problems with alcohol.

She started drinking heavily at the time, ran out of alcohol and was without money.

Mr Prew said "She is sorry for the fear she caused Mr Iqbal.

"She can barely remember her actions that night. Her motivation was acute desperation for alcohol".