Magistrates have heard of how two shop assistants in Callington were subjected to a barrage of abuse and creme egg-throwing by a 20-year-old former Looe woman.

Sarah Hall, now living in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, appeared before the court in Liskeard on Tuesday facing two allegations of using threatening words or behaviour in Callington on February 3 and 5 and with causing criminal damage to a jar of Nescafe and two Cadbury's creme eggs.

She also admitted failing to surrender to bail on March 3.

She was made the subject of a 12-month Community Order, to include 60 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £2.73 compensation for the chocolate eggs and coffee and a further £20 compensation to Claire Weeks and £40 to Emma Cross.

Phillip Lee, prosecuting, said that on February 3 the two assistants, Emma Cross and 18-year-old student Claire Weeks, were at work in the Spar shop in Callington's Fore Street.

Miss Cross had known the defendant for some years and that day Hall and a male had been outside the shop throwing snowballs at the frontage. They had been warned about their behaviour but Hall, who was 'clearly drunk', became verbally abusive, saying they had done nothing wrong and inviting Miss Cross to call the police.

She then threw the creme eggs at Miss Cross and then picked up the jar of coffee, which she also threw, smashing it against a light fitting.

After Hall had left the premises, the two assistants, who were frightened, locked the doors and activated the panic alarm.

When arrested and interviewed, Hall admitted the damage and agreed her behaviour had been intimidatory.

Unfortunately, said Mr Lee, matters did not end there and on February 5, while Miss Cross was helping an elderly customer to load his car, Hall approached her again in a threatening manner.

Miss Cross turned away but Hall was again abusive and threatening.

When arrested again, Hall told police she simply did not like Miss Cross but denied threatening her.

The court heard that she had pleaded not guilty to the offence but had failed to attend her trial on March 3, at which she was found guilty in her absence.

Tanya Calderwood, defending, said her client was currently living in Scunthorpe and was on benefits but was trying to obtain work. Her family continued to live in Cornwall and she was considering moving back to the county in the future.

Hall told the court she had not been able to afford to travel down to Cornwall for the trial hearing.