AN ALCOHOLIC woman who set out to kill someone when she went into a shoe shop in Newport and hit a shopper over the head with a hammer has been sentenced to 12 years.

Helen Price, of William Lovett Gardens, Newport, said she had so much anger in her life that she wanted to lash out and kill someone on May 9, 2016.

Armed with a hammer in her bag, she found Wendy James with her husband sat down in a shoe shop in Newport city centre.

"Mrs James felt a heavy blow to the head and noticed blood," said James Wilson, prosecuting.

"Mr James saw blood and heard his wife say she thought the ceiling was coming down."

A police officer who was outside the shop recognised Price.  When he asked her if she had carried out the attack, Price said: "I need help."

Mrs James was taken to hospital with head injuries, which were not serious.

One of the witnesses of the attack was Price's friend, Robert Garner, who heard a scream when he walked past the shop.

When interviewed, he told police that Price had attacked him with a garden trowel when he had visited his home on April 26.

He was left with cuts to his cheek and chin.

In a statement read out, Mr Garner told the court he still has flashbacks to the attack.

He said he was previously employed in security at rugby matches, but has been unable to work since the attack.

When interviewed, 49-year-old Price said she had set out to kill someone to get sent to prison.

She hit Mrs James as hard as she could and admitted attempting to kill her.

In a victim impact statement, Mrs James said she has had flashbacks from the attack and cannot understand why she was targeted.

Price, who the court heard suffers from a mental disorder and alcoholism, was sentenced after pleading guilty to attempted murder, assault causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon at a previous hearing.

Price pleaded guilty to causing ABH in relation to the assault on Mr Garner.

Mr Garner had come to her home to check up on Price’s well-being when she carried out the attack.

Harry Baker, defending, said Price had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had made no attempt to shirk responsibility.

Judge Eleri Rees concluded Price posed a “significant risk of harm” to the public.

Price was sentenced to 12 years and ordered to be detained at the Caswell Clinic.