A woman has been spared jail after she chased a man into a supermarket with a metal bar in her hand.

Police were called to reports of a female seen in possession of a weapon, which was possibly a knife or metal bar, at Morrisons in Whitehaven, at 3.50pm on October 9.

Workington Magistrates’ Court heard that the defendant, Chloe Sinton, 21, had left the scene but was stopped by police while running up Catherine Street.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said officers viewed CCTV footage which showed a female in possession of a metal bar.

Sinton admitted she didn’t have a knife but had a metal bar which she said she had taken in self-defence. She told officers she had left it under the Amazon lockers in Morrisons.

The defendant said she believed a male had been in a possession of a weapon so had taken a metal bar to Morrisons “to defend herself, if necessary”.

She said she didn’t intend to cause anyone harm and had it as a way of protection.

Sinton said her boyfriend had been injured by a male prior to the incident taking place.

CCTV footage was played to the court which showed Sinton chasing a male as he went into Morrisons supermarket, while she had a metal bar in her hand.

Ms Fee said the defendant had used an offensive weapon to threaten or cause fear in a public place where there are often children present.

John Cooper, defending, said: “It’s a very serious offence. She knows that.

“She arrives home to find her partner has been assaulted. He decides he is going for the male himself.

“I don’t think there was any action taken against the boyfriend or male. She explained to police what happened. She is here because she co-operated with the police.

“She suggested she had taken a weapon for self-defence. If you take a weapon to the scene, it’s obviously a very different situation.

“It’s a very stupid thing to get involved in.”

Sinton, of George Street, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Passing sentence, Jennifer Wilkinson, chair of magistrates, said: “This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.

“There was possession of an offensive weapon. It was in a public place where vulnerable people were likely to be present. You were under the influence of alcohol.

“We have taken into consideration your age and vulnerability. We are going to suspend your sentence because of that.”

Sinton was sentenced to four months in custody, suspended for 12 months. She must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and an alcohol monitoring programme for 60 days.

She must pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the metal bar.

MORE FROM COURT: Man, 70, carried out indecent act as woman danced naked in window