A shoplifter with hundreds of convictions has been jailed after her illegal pit bull attacked a guide dog.

Tracey Clarke, 48, was sentenced to a total of 24 weeks in prison for a series of offences at Manchester Magistrates Court this week.

The court heard she has an appalling record of convictions stretching back to 1985, including 157 offences of dishonesty.

She was back before the bench on Thursday to be sentenced for two offences of shoplifting alcohol, candles and cake from Slattery's in Whitefield, as well as owning a fighting dog, namely a pit bull called 'Skye'.

Prosecutor Eileen Rogers that the court: "On July 20 last year, Michelle Chadwick who is registered blind, was walking home with her two-year-old labrador 'Terri' on Racecourse Walk in Radcliffe.

"A black dog came running straight at her and her guide dog.

"The dog did have a muzzle on but it started to headbutt her dog, snarl and growl, pushing the guide dog into the owner.

"Due to the dog being so ferocious, Mrs Chadwick feared for the safety of her dog and had to release the reins so that it could get away from the headbutts.

"The dog continued to attack the guide dog."

It was around this point that Tracey Clarke and her boyfriend came running out of a flat to try and get 'Skye' under control, the court heard.

Another neighbour was heard to shout 'that's a guide dog' and Tracey replied 'my dog doesn't know that', the court heard.

Eventually, the pair managed to get Skye back in the flat and fortunately neither the guide dog nor Mrs Chadwick suffered any injuries.

But they were both left "traumatised" by the whole event, said prosecutor Ms Rogers.

The court heard Skye had previously belonged to a friend of Clarke's, and she said she had only agreed to take it on two months previously when she heard the owner had 'disappeared down south.'

The dog was subject to a control order at the time, the court heard, which meant it was required to be on a muzzle at all times and that authorities were to be notified if it moved addresses.

Clarke was charged but did not attend court on June 7 and the case was proved in her abscence.

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Chadwick said if Skye hadn't been wearing a muzzle "I don't think Terri would be here today".

"The incident lasted four minutes but felt like a lifetime.

"I felt so helpless.

"I'm partially sighted but I could see Terri was terrified, the noise the other dog was making was harrowing."

"I didn't think she was coming home in one piece.

"If something isn't done about this dog I dread to think would could happen.

"Terri isn't just a dog she is my life."

Magistrates were told that Clarke's offences came while she was still subject to a suspended sentence from a previous conviction.

They activated this sentence and said she must serve 16 weeks in prison.

Clarke also received two weeks for each of the shoplifting offences, and a further four weeks for the dog offence meaning she must serve a total of 24 weeks.

No costs or compensation was awarded as the court heard her only income is £190 a month in Universal Credit.

The dog Skye must also be destroyed.