A 48-YEAR-old woman who was caught with a knife in her rucksack in Worcester city centre has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Natalie Demydenko, of no fixed abode but previously of Worcester, came close to going immediately to prison when she appeared in front of city magistrates.
Demydenko had admitted possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place and theft from a shop in January, returning to Worcester Magistrates Court for sentence.
The court heard the defendant stole two fleeces valued at £59.98 from Mountain Warehouse in Broad Street, Worcester.
Vernon Nibbs, chairman of the magistrates bench, gave Demydenko a two-month jail sentence, suspended for a year.
The chairman told Demydenko to pay £185 costs and £154 victim surcharge.
Magistrates also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the knife.
Tom Wickstead prosecuted while Jason Patel defended during the hearing at the court on Friday, (February 23).
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