WOMAN'S THREATS TO STRANGERS

A THREATENING woman who approached two other random women in the street during "aggressive begging" confrontations left them both terrified and fearing for their safety.

- By MARK NAYLOR

Drug user Nicola O'Connor demanded that one of the women buy her a coffee but, when she refused, she angrily smacked her on the back of her head. She asked another woman for a cigarette and repeatedly blocked her path and raised her arms to stop her escaping, Hull Crown Court heard.

O'Connor, 48, of Hull, admitted offences of theft, attempted theft and two of assault.

Harry Bradford, prosecuting, said that, on January 14, a woman was in Princes Avenue, Hull, on her way to get a coffee at 10.30am when O'Connor approached her and asked her to buy a coffee for her. The woman declined but O'Connor persisted.

The woman went into Sainsbury's but she heard O'Connor shouting something behind her. She felt a smack to the back of her head and stumbled into the shop.