Mum slashed Next security guards with knife after trying to steal children's clothes

A mum who slashed two security guards with a Stanley knife after trying to steal children's clothes wept as she was sent to prison. Claire Newman left David Bailey needing 20 stitches in his arm, while she also injured his colleague Ian Grogan's hand.

The 34-year-old attacked the security guards at the Next store on New Mersey Shopping Park, in Liverpool, just over a month after twice stealing designer handbags from Selfridges in Manchester. She was jailed yesterday (May 31) following all three offences.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Duffy told Liverpool Crown Court that the two Next security guards had managed to stop Newman leaving the store, and wanted to take a picture of her so she could be banned from entering the shop again. But Newman soon became aggressive, the Liverpool Echo reports.

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Mr Duffy said: “She shouted that she would stab David Bailey and it transpired that she had a Stanley knife on her person and she stabbed Mr Bailey, causing him a nasty injury on his forearm.” Newman also caused a scratch on Mr Bailey’s jaw and bit his other arm.

In the scuffle, she also caught Mr Grogan with the knife. Newman later admitted wounding Mr Bailey with intent and wounding Mr Grogan without intent.

She also pleaded guilty to theft and possession of a bladed article. Mr Bailey required 20 stitches to his arm and Mr Grogan required eight stitches in his hand.

Both men said the incident had made them and their colleagues more nervous about doing their jobs. Newman was also sentenced today for crimes committed in Manchester six weeks before the attacks in Next.

She stole designer handbags from Selfridges in