A woman who threatened a Lowestoft shopkeeper with a knife, spat at a police officer and assaulted hospital security staff has been jailed.

Victoria Nash, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 31 months in prison in connection with a number of offences.

She was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday, July 6, having previously pleaded guilty to four offences – robbery, possession of a bladed article in a public place and two counts of assault on a police officer – which happened on Friday, May 22.

Nash was also sentenced in connection with four other offence she had admitted to.

These were one count of assaulting a police officer, two counts of common assault against security staff – all occurring at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston on March 2 – and assaulting a custody officer at Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre on June 8.

Police said that Nash entered the Happy Shopper store in London Road South, Kirkley, at around 5.15pm on Friday, May 22.

She was seen to pick up two three-litre bottles of cider, but as she was recognised as someone who had previously been banned from the store, the shopkeeper asked her to put the bottles down and leave.

Nash headed towards the exit, before putting the bottles down and producing a knife from her trousers.

She told the shopkeeper: “I’m taking the two ciders”, before walking out.

Police were called with officers arresting her at a flat in London Road South.

During the arrest, Nash twice spat at the same police officer, as well as attempting to kick officers and being verbally abusive.

The flat was searched and the two bottles of cider were located along with a knife matching the description of the one used during the robbery.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Con Paul Quantrill, of East CID in Lowestoft, said: “We will not tolerate people being threatened in their place of work and having to contend with loss of stock, by whichever means it is stolen.

“The victim in this case provides an essential amenity to the local community and should be able to feel safe whilst going about his daily business.

“Victoria Nash not only targeted a member of the public, but also had no qualms about assaulting police officers, a detention officer and hospital security staff.

“Three of these assaults involved spitting, which is not only completely disgusting, but entirely reckless during the current pandemic.”