Carla Couperthwaite (pictured above) was jailed for 16 months following the incident in Bolton

A woman who went on the rampage with a steak knife outside a corner shop because 'another customer was staring at her' has been jailed for 16 months as a judge tells her blades are a 'concerning national issue'.

Carla Couperthwaite chased a man into a convenience store before repeatedly stabbing at the door with the serrated blade.

The sentencing of the 22-year-old comes amid Britain's growing knife crime epidemic, which has seen numerous incidents across the UK in recent weeks.

During the rampage Couperthwaite, from Bolton, spent five minutes trying to get into the store before setting about a second man who happened to be walking down the road.

The second victim was bundled to the ground and appeared to be kicked as Couperthwaite berated him whilst 'frothing at the mouth.'

Police were called to the scene and arrested Couperthwaite at her mother's house nearby. It is thought that neither man was injured.

Couperthwaite who has previous convictions for violence later admitted she had been drinking heavily and said the way the first man had been looking at her was 'troubling.' It is thought she got the knife from her home nearby.

At Bolton Crown Court she was jailed for 16 months after judge Timothy Stead adjourned sentencing so he could examine the blade - saying knife crime in the UK was a 'concerning national issue.'

Carla Couperthwaite (pictured left and right) chased a man into a corner shop before setting on another man who was walking by

He said: 'The current climate amounts to it being mentioned every time you turn on the television news. The knife which features in this case was brought to court and I actually have it in my chambers. It appears to be a steak knife with a serrated blade.

'It appears to be blunted at the end, which is consistent with the defendant's actions where she stabbed the door with force.

He told Couperthwaite: 'You are 22 years old and you have a lengthy record of offences for somebody your age. Heavy drinking and intoxication seem to be a big part of your life and it featured in this offence.

'You pleaded guilty to two offences, one of affray and one of possessing a bladed article in a public place. The CCTV recording of the incident began with a young male running across the road and running into a shop and he must have locked or barricaded the door from the inside as you were unable to gain entry.'

Carla Couperthwaite's sentencing was held at Bolton Crown Court (pictured above)

Couperthwaite (pictured above) has previous convictions for violence and admitted she had been drinking heavily

He added that she had been chasing the man with one arm raised and that she had been holding the knife like a dagger.

'It is a steak knife which has been blunted, which is consistent with you stabbing the door with force.

'You were effectively launching a frightening and ferocious attack on the door to get to this man, fortunately there was another woman trying to calm you down and she managed to get the knife off you.

'You were described as frothing at the mouth and completely out of control. Your attacks on the door were not the end of this offence.'

Couperthwaite pleaded guilty to affray and possessing a bladed article

Couperthwaite's lawyer said she had been through many challenges in her life and had started drinking at the age of 13

Judge Stead said a male stranger had been walking along and had visible reacted to her carrying the knife.

'So you attacked him. You got him to the ground and you can be seen kicking him and stamping at him.

'We do not know what damage you did to this man because he remains a stranger. There is no other option I have but to give you a custodial sentence.'

Couperthwaite (pictured above) said one man was looking at her in a 'troubling way'

The court heard the attack occurred at 6.45pm on February 4 after Couperthwaite had been drinking with friends. She was seen attempting to batter down the door of the shop to get to the first man before turning her attention to another man who was walking past.

She attacked him, pushing him to the ground and appeared to be kicking him, although she did not use the knife on him.

Couperthwaite pleaded guilty to affray and possessing a bladed article.

Her lawyer Nicholas Ross said in mitigation: 'The knife can be described as an eating knife rather than a cutting, kitchen knife. There are no excuses but she now wants to take opportunities.

'The male in question, she felt, had been looking at her on a number of occasions in a manner she felt was troubling. She had seen the man staring at her several times previously. What she did then however has absolutely no excuse. She is ashamed by her conduct.

'She had a number of challenges in her life and had begun drinking at the age of 13 as a way of dealing with lack of self-esteem.'