A prolific Carlisle criminal who humiliated and threatened two terrified females has been sent to prison.

Theresa Cook, 38, locked the pair in a city house after flying into a drug-fuelled rage during the early hours of February 10.

Cook held a knife to the throat of one and then demanded they both strip naked so she could search for cash and drugs she believed they had stolen. The desperate females made frantic 999 calls before they were finally allowed to leave the property.

At Carlisle Crown Court today, Cook was sentenced after admitting a charge of affray.

She had previously pleaded guilty to a number of other offences, including drugs possession and shoplifting, which were committed later while she was on bail.

Judge Tony Lancaster heard Cook, of Greengarth, Upperby, had a staggering 400 offences on her criminal record. Almost three-quarters of these were for theft.

Judge Lancaster imposed an immediate 14-month prison sentence, telling Cook: "All of the offences justify that because they are all serious."