A North East woman who stole a parcel from a Royal Mail van and threatened to stab the postman trying to stop her has been jailed.

Tegan Harker, 20, was caught red-handed on West Lane after opening the back door of a Royal Mail vehicle while the postman was emptying a nearby letterbox. When he returned to find the door open, he spotted Harker walking away with the parcel and gave chase.

Teesside Crown Court heard the postman bravely confronted her, but during the struggle to reclaim the parcel, Harker threatened to stab him if he didn’t let go. She eventually dropped the package when police arrived, and it was returned to its rightful owner.

The court also heard that Harker was already serving a suspended sentence for a previous offence involving a knife and public disorder. She had breached the terms of that sentence by missing two rehabilitation appointments.

In mitigation, her lawyer said Harker had been homeless following her release, struggled with crack cocaine addiction, and had found her boyfriend dead in August — a trauma that sent her into further decline.

Appearing via video link from HMP Low Newton, Harker was said to be receiving treatment for her addiction in custody. Judge Ayesha Smart activated the original two-year suspended sentence and added 10 days for the new theft offence.

Harker, of no fixed address, will serve half of her sentence before being eligible for release.