A BLADE-carrying shoplifter had a ‘fully extended’ Stanley knife with her as she raided a Greenock supermarket.

Michelle McEwan — who stole watches and boots from Tesco — claims that she ‘forgot’ about the cutter being in her handbag.

It was found during a search of her belongings after she was prevented from leaving the busy Dalrymple Street store.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how a suspicious staff member tracked McEwan on CCTV monitors as she loitered near merchandise.

Prosecutor Lindy Scaife said: “The accused was in the locus in the company of another female.

“The CCTV operator decided to follow the accused as she appeared to be under the influence of drink.

“She crouched down at the watch display and is clearly seen pulling at the security tags on the watches.

“Five watches were missing from the display after the accused had been in that area.” Fiscal depute Ms Scaife added: “At the till she paid for food items but not any of the watches.

“She was detained and a search uncovered the five watches and a pair of boots as well.

“The total value of the stolen items was £79.

“In the accused’s handbag a Stanley knife was found with its blade fully extended.” McEwan, 39, committed the shoplifting and knife offences on 20 February last year. Defence lawyer Terry Gallanagh said: “Regarding the knife charge, an explanation in the background report is that if she had known it was there she wouldn’t having been pulling on the tags because she could have cut them off.

“Her position is that she forgot that it was there. She has no record for violence or any offences analogous to the the knife one.” Mr Gallanagh added: “However, she accepts that she has a bad record for dishonesty due to an ingrained heroin addiction.

“The past weeks in custody have forcibly detoxed her and she is now on methadone.

“Her time in custody has been a salutary experience.” Sheriff Ian Fleming told McEwan: “You will be 40 in September. If you want to waste your days in Cornton Vale that’s up to you.

“Mr Gallanagh says that custody has been a salutary lesson for you, but I want to see if it truly has been.” The sheriff placed McEwan, of Carwood Street, Greenock, under strict supervision within the community for a period of 12 months.