A WOMAN told a court how she was stabbed during a raid at the shop where she worked.

The assistant gave evidence after Clitheroe man John Michael Davies, 30, pleaded guilty to a theft charge, but denied assault at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

The court was told that Marjorie Bostock, 54, a grandmother-of-one, was working behind the counter of Shippy's Store, Pendle Road, Sabden, when she was attacked at around 9.15pm on Wednesday, May 31, this year.

The jury heard how Mrs Bostock was on the phone to her sister, Gill Birtwell, 51, at the time of the incident when Davies, of no fixed address, entered the store, asking for help in reaching a packet of crisps.

The phone line remained open throughout the ordeal, the court was told, with Mrs Bostock shouting for her sister to phone the police because she had been stabbed. Her other sister Pat Shipston, 53, owns the store.

Mrs Bostock claimed she was pushed out of the way, stabbed in the back with a plastic pen, and was knocked to the ground after either being headbutted or punched by Davies. She claimed Davies then raided the till.

The next day Mrs Bostock went to see her GP about injuries she suffered to her right shoulder and left hand, the court was told.

However, Mrs Bostock was accused of embellishing the story because she was "embarrassed" after leaving the till open.

The court was told that Davies saw his opportunity and took the cash, around £600.

Mrs Bostock said that was not the case and said she never tells lies.

Mrs Bostock said: "I always tell the truth. I wouldn't have any difficulty telling my sister if I had left the till drawer open, because it was my sister.

"We were scuffling at the time which lasted a matter of seconds."

(Proceeding)