A former supermarket employee who lost her job after throwing a bottle at a colleague, returned to the store and held a knife to the other woman’s throat.

Helen Wickenden felt her hair being pulled and turned to see her one time friend Debra Powell was holding a large kitchen knife in her hand.

She put the knife to Ms Wickenden’s throat and drew the blade across her neck before being disarmed by staff at Asda in Canterbury.

Powell, 33, of Glen Iris Avenue, Canterbury, admitted common assault and possessing an offensive weapon and at Canterbury Crown Court was jailed for two years.

Judge Nigel van der Bijl told her knife crime was getting out of control and although he accepted all that was said on her behalf, there had to be a significant custodial sentence.

James Bilsland, prosecuting, said the two women had been friends but Powell then passed Ms Wickenden’s phone number to a man called Chris and they began a relationship.

Chris had previously been in a relationship with Powell who took against it which began to cause trouble.

She threw a water bottle at Ms Wickenden which led to Powell’s suspension and eventual dismissal.

Some time later she saw the couple in Westgate Gardens and she made a comment and walked off.

On September 15 Ms Wickenden was at work in Asda when she suddenly felt her hair being pulled and was attacked by Powell.

Patricia Richards had seen the incident and grabbed the knife and a man took it away, both getting minor cuts in the process.

Powell was held on the ground and was shouting: “You have ruined my life,” towards Ms Wickenden.

She later told police she had gone to Asda to see old colleagues and when she saw the victim it brought back all her old feelings.

She was standing by the knives, selected one and unpacked it. She didn’t believe she intended to harm Ms Wickenden.

Powell had no convictions and her lawyer, Aaron Rollin, said she had no history of such behaviour and at the time was distressed and unhappy.

She didn’t take the weapon with her and although great fear was caused, there was very little injury.

Jailing Powell, Judge van der Bijl said in a way he could understand what caused the incident but the mere telling of what happened was incredible.

“You take care to unpack a knife, find the person you want to see and hold it up aginst her throat and at one point put the point in her throat. Can you imagine the sheer terror,” said the judge.

“Fortunately two people from the store disarmed you. You said you wouldn’t have gone any further and I fully accept that.

“The trouble is you committed these offences in the context of knife crime that is so rife, it is getting out of control.

“There has to be a significant custodial sentence so that members of the public can feel assured that the courts are trying to protect them and I am afraid your own personal needs have to come second and they will be dealt with in prison.”