Woman produced syringe needle in Easington Co-op robberies

Carly Louise Lamb was said to have committed the offences on visits to the store in Easington Colliery on Thursday January 18 and Tuesday January 23 this year.

She appeared at Durham Crown Court for a plea hearing in the case via video link from Low Newton Women’s Prison, on the outskirts of the city, where she has been held on remand since being arrested and charged.

The 25-year-old defendant, of no fixed address, admitted two counts each of robberies of a store worker, and, without good reason or lawful authority, having an article with a blade or point, both at the Co-op premises on those dates.

Judge Nathan Adams said: “My understanding is that the robberies are associated with theft when she picked up two crates of alcohol and shows staff needles she has on her.”

The judge said he would seek reports from the Probation Service before sentencing the defendant as the offences represented, “a serious escalation in her behaviour”.

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Katie Spence, for Lamb, said the report may assist as her client had been making, “significant progress recently”, adding that the offences last month, “represented something of a relapse.”

Judge Adams gave the defendant “no indication” to what the eventual sentence may be and adjourned the case until April 9.

In the meantime, the defendant will remain remanded in custody at HMP Low Newton.