A drug user tried to deck the boss of a Co-op store after she was rumbled trying to steal more than £100-worth of meat.

Claire Bartley "barged past a stack of biscuits" in a bid to land a punch on the manager of the Hanford store in Mayne Street, Stoke-on-Trent .

The 32-year-old was trying to escape with her teatime treats when she was stopped by staff, StokeonTrentLive reported .

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard she became aggressive because staff seized the bag she had taken into the store.

Sabrina Naz, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was stopped leaving the Co-op store with £102.06 of meat.

"A team manager at the store heard a call on her headset and made her way to the front of the store where a staff member had stopped the defendant.

Claire Bartley.
Claire Bartley.

“The defendant became aggressive towards staff. The defendant barged past a stack of biscuits and swung a punch at the manager.

"Police arrived and the defendant was arrested. The complainant had a small cut on her cheek, pain and reddening.”

Bartley, of no fixed address, told police she had gone to the Co-op intending to steal the goods to fund her drug habit. She pleaded guilty to charges of theft and assault by beating on May 6.

The court heard she is subject to post-sentence supervision until 2020 and wanted help to address her heroin problem and her lack of accommodation.

Kate Preston, mitigating, said: “At the time Miss Bartley was struggling with withdrawal from drugs.

She intended to steal the meat to fund her drug habit. She did not intend to assault the team manager.

"She didn’t want to leave without her bag, which had been retained. She was grabbed by the shirt and reacted by lashing out.”

Magistrates handed Bartley a 12-month community order with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a ten-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She was also ordered to pay the staff member £150