A WOMAN told a rival she would “rip her head off” after confronting her in a South Tyneside gadget shop.
Claire Heppell was in Supertech in Fowler Street, South Shields, when she saw a woman she fell out with four years ago.
Upon seeing the woman, the 28-year-old, who was with her sister and a friend, began to shout and threatened to wait outside the shop and attack her.
The shopkeeper called police and Heppell, of Fairless Street, South Shields, left.
She was later arrested and pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour to provoke fear of violence at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said: “The victim said she was getting served at the counter in Supertech when she heard a woman’s voice coming from behind her saying ‘that’s her that got me locked up all those years ago’.
“She said she realised who it was and Heppell then shouted ‘I’m going to rip your head off when you leave here’.
“The police were called and Heppell left. The victim was scared to leave in case she was outside and said she was worried she would carry out the threats.”
Heppell was given a 12-month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay a £360 victim surcharge.