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A North Tyneside mother squirted bleach in a shopkeeper's face in an "unpleasant attack".

Natasha Stephenson carried out the attack after an earlier altercation with the shopkeeper about preventing her from stealing from his shop. The 36-year-old later went on to arm herself with a bottle of bleach from a lorry before spraying it in his face.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Stephenson, who has complex mental health issues, was under the impression her children had been injured in an assault and was "encouraged" to carry out the attack by others. Fortunately, the attack did not leave the shopkeeper with lasting injuries.

On Wednesday, Stephenson, of Strawberry Gardens, Wallsend, appeared at the court to be sentenced for grievous bodily harm without intent. She had pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that the attack was carried out in a Palmersville store against the shopkeeper on July 30, last year. Judge Robert Spragg said: "The victim had been in an altercation with you on the same date to prevent you stealing from the shop."

The court was told that Stephenson, who has four children, had also become "upset" after believing her kids had been assaulted. Judge Spragg said that it appeared she was then "encouraged by others to attend" the shop with a bottle of bleach she got from a lorry.

The judge continued: "[The victim] went towards the door and you sprayed him in the face with bleach which was painful for him. His eyes were very sore but there were no lasting injuries and he made a full recovery. The chemical burn was low, it was a very unpleasant attack for him." The court heard that before the attack, the shopkeeper had been "welcomed into the local community".

Katie Spence, defending, said Stephenson wanted to apologise to the victim and "accepts full responsibility for her actions". She said: "She blames herself entirely."