A mum picked up a pair of shoes in a shop without paying – and then immediately returned them to try and con a refund.

Yvonne Mellor, 28, then punched a security guard at a Marks and Spencer’s store.

Magistrates were told Mellor, from Sharston, Wythenshawe, took a pair black ladies’ shoes off the shelf and put them in a pink bag in a shopping trolley.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said she then walked over to the customer service desk and asked if she could return the shoes. She was given a £49.99 credit note to spend in the store, at Handforth Dean, near Wilmslow.

But the whole episode was spotted on CCTV by one of the store’s security guards and he went to apprehend Mellor.

When she was taken into a holding room, an argument started and she punched him in the face leaving him with a bloody nose.

There was a scuffle in which Mellor said ‘Get off me, your blood’s all over me and you might have Aids’. She had to restrained by two guards until police arrived.

Lyndsay Knaggs, defending, said a friend had told her about the scam just hours earlier and that she intended to use the money to buy food for her seven-year-old son.

Ms Knaggs added: "She has recently split up with her partner. She was struggling to support herself financially and a friend told her about this ‘easy method’ of making money.

"She was desperate to feed her son. She accepts she lashed out and her actions went beyond self-defence. She is remorseful and is very sorry this ever occurred."

Mellor, of Chaffinch Close, admitted fraud and assault. She was given a 12-month community order and ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid work. She was also told to pay £100 in compensation and £85 costs.

Chairman of the bench, Dr Gwyneth Edwards said: "We must not forget the victim in this case. He was just doing his job when you assaulted him."