A WOMAN who had recently undergone heart surgery was attacked in a supermarket after showing concern for what she thought was a stray dog.

Blackburn magistrates heard the woman was dragged to the floor by her hair and then pulled across the shopping aisle.

The attack by Mrs Charlie Jackson only ended when staff at Aldi on Montague Street, Blackburn, intervened.

Jackson, 46, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Victoria Goulden and two charges of assaulting an emergency worker. She was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and made subject to a community order with 25 days rehabilitation activity requirement and a nine months alcohol treatment order. She was ordered to pay £50 to each of her victims, £85 costs and £128 victim surcharge.

Scott Parker, prosecuting, said Mrs Goulden had been shopping when she noticed a puppy dog on King Street and there appeared to be nobody with it. Later in the day she went to Aldi and the same puppy was outside the shop.

"A member of staff was asking whose dog it was and Mrs Goulden said she had seen it earlier and thought it was lost," said Mr Parker. "Jackson approached with a bottle in her hand and told them to leave it alone, it was her son's dog."

Mrs Goulden walked into the shop and CCTV showed Jackson take off her coat and barge past a member of staff into the store. She was shouting as she threw a box of cereal at Mrs Goulden.

"She then grabbed her hair and pushed her against the bread display before dragging her to the floor," said Mr Parker. "The victim was then dragged across the aisle before staff intervened and the police were called."

The police described Jackson as drunk and very aggressive and when they tried to place her in handcuffs she kicked out catching one officer on the leg and the other in the groin.

Mr Parker said Mrs Goulden did not receive any injuries but she was scared because of her recent surgery.

"She had an open wound which had to be packed every few days at the clinic," said Mr Parker. "We are not saying the defendant had any knowledge of that but it was clearly a distressing incident."

Ian Huggan, defending, said his client accepted that her behaviour had been totally unacceptable and wished to apologise to all the individuals concerned.

Mr Huggan said his client had recently been the victim of a burglary by someone she had known for some time.

"That was reported to the police and as a result there have been assaults on her and members of her family," said Mr Huggan. "That has impacted on her mental health and she has turned to drink.

"At the time of this incident she was struggling and has reacted badly."