A MOTHER who "hit life's down escalator" when her partner died a day after she was jailed for benefit fraud had appeared in court for the eighth time for carrying a knife in public.

Andrea Blakeburn's barrister told a judge at Teesside Crown Court that he would never see another defendant who had "fallen as low and fallen as quickly" as she has in just two years.

Blakeburn had never been in trouble before she was locked up in November 2012 for claiming handouts as a single mum of three - when she was living with her partner.

Since her release, the 48-year-old's criminal record has rocketed to 48 offences as her life has plunged to new depths in a cycle of self-harm, alcoholism and untreated grief.

In May, Blakeburn, of Pateley Moor Crescent, Darlington, was given a suspended prison sentence for carrying a knife when her lawyer told a judge of her heartbreaking story.

She was back at the crown court on Tuesday (October 14), to face two more charges of possessing a bladed article and assault.

Her barrister challenged a different judge to follow the same path - despite telling him: "As a matter of pure law, there is no court in England that would let her out."

Tom Mitchell said to Judge Peter Armstrong: "Just do it, any way, and do it any way, because unusually this is one person who can be saved if the alternative is pursued.

"What she needs is balance, and what she has at the moment is chaos. Sending her to prison will produce public satisfaction, but it will produce more chaos."

Despite Mr Mitchell's pleas, Blakeburn was jailed for a total of 12 months - six months for carrying a blade on August 23 and October 3, and the assault on a supermarket worker on August 27; with six months on top for breaching the suspended sentence.

The court heard how she was found in Darlington town centre, having slashed her wrists, with a five-inch kitchen knife in her coat; and earlier this month in a bookies with a blade.

Mr Mitchell said: "In less than two years, Andrea Blakeburn's rate of offending surpasses many who would appear before this court, going from a standing start when she was 46.

"The day after she first went to prison, her partner died. She is consumed still by the guilt and horror she feels for not having been there to at least see his last moments.

"It has had a dreadful effect on her because that combination of circumstances - imprisonment, bereavement - just caused her to hit life's down escalator.

"When consumed with regret, she consumes vast amounts of drink. On occasion, that may be accompanied by gambling. But it always results in the same thing - self-harm."

Judge Armstrong told Blakeburn, who admitted the charges: "You were given the chance with a suspended sentence in May, and I'm afraid you have thrown that back in the court's face."