AN ALCOHOLIC threatened a neighbour with scissors and called her a whore when she thought derogatory comments were being made behind her back.

A judge warned Sarah Miller this was her “last chance” when she appeared in Lewes Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for the attack.

At around 5.30pm on August 14, Glynis Shipley was outside her home in Upper Hollingdean Road, Brighton, speaking to friends and neighbours.

Miller put her head out of the window of a flat above and yelled words to the effect of, “If you want to say stuff about me, say it to my ******* face. I’m coming after you,” the court heard.

Suddenly Miller emerged from the property, walked towards Mrs Shipley and a neighbour shouted: “Watch yourself, she has a pair of scissors.”

Sarah Lindop, prosecuting, said: “She was lifting up the large kitchen scissors as if she was going to stab down with them and said ‘I’m going to ******* have you.’

“[The victim] thought she was going to be stabbed.

“Sarah Miller stepped back at the last second, lifted the scissors away and left.

“The victim was extremely frightened.”

The court heard how Miller called Mrs Shipley a “slapper” and a “whore”.

She was arrested two hours later but made no comment when questioned by police. She was later charged with using threatening or abusive words and behaviour as well as possession of a bladed article in a public place.

The 29-year-old admitted the crimes when she appeared before magistrates in August.

Because the incident was so serious, her case had to be sent to crown court for sentencing.

Josie Sonnessa, defending, said Miller, who is of no fixed abode but had been staying at her partner’s flat at the time, claimed there were derogatory comments levelled at her and she had reacted badly.

Ms Sonnessa said: “She thought better of it, discarded the scissors, picked them up and went indoors. She realised how stupid she had been.

“She is somewhat vulnerable. She admits alcohol misuse is more of a problem than she has been able to accept in the past. She has been attending AA meetings and St Peter’s Church in Brighton is now offering her one-to-one sessions.

“She needs to address it and is addressing it. She is very much of the view she needs this help.”

Judge Simon Coltart handed Miller concurrent sentences of three months for threatening behaviour and six months for possession of a blade which will be suspended for two years, and ordered her to attend 15 sessions of rehabilitation.

He said: "This was a serious incident.

"Taking into account your guilty plea I am prepared to give you a chance not to have that prison sentence implemented but it is up to you.

"I will not be impressed in any way by any excuse from you.

"If there's any repetition of behaviour or criminal activity you will go to prison.

"This is your last chance."