A man who took out his phone in court to take a snap of his drug addict girlfriend because she looked “so well” has been warned there will be “consequences” if it happens again.

Pamela Jardine had been in the dock waiting to learn her fate for a two-day crime spree in the Medway Towns that had seen her rob a pensioner, slap a security guard and attack a store worker.

Her offending also saw her assault members of the public, steal a packet of Dairy Lea Dunkers, smash a shop door and have drugs stuffed down her bra.

But a sentencing hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday (September 11) came to a grinding halt - with her barrister in full flow in his mitigation - at the distinctive sound of a photo being taken on a phone.

It was as the judge and court staff looked around in disbelief and asked who was responsible for the snap that the man, sitting in the public gallery and seemingly unabashed, declared: “I just took a picture of my girlfriend. I haven't seen her for a while.”

Informed that was not permitted, he then called across the courtroom to Jardine, who has been in custody on remand since April, saying “It’s just that you look so well”, before adding: “Do you want me to delete it? I'll delete it.”

Security was summoned to the courtroom to check that the image had been removed from the culprit’s phone.

Having apologised, he was warned by Recorder John Passmore KC, that there would be different consequences if it happened again.

The boyfriend, who could have been held in contempt of court by taking his illicit photo, replied: “I didn't realise it was an issue.”

Filming, photography and recording in the precincts of a court is strictly forbidden.

Signs are prominently displayed throughout HMCTS buildings, including at entrances into the courtrooms themselves.

The penalty for such an offence can be a fine or imprisonment.

Jardine, formerly of Luton Road, Chatham, but said to be homeless for two years, faced sentencing for a catalogue of crimes committed in the town centre on April 12 this year, and in Gillingham on July 1 last year.

The court heard that as well as robbing the elderly man of his iPhone and leaving him bleeding in the street, she also stole make-up from Boots in The Pentagon and assaulted the store security guard while racially abusing him by saying “F****** immigrants”.

On arrest outside Buzz Bingo, formerly Gala Bingo in the High Street, she was shouting and swearing, and discovered to have crack cocaine and cannabis stashed inside her underwear.

Nine months earlier she had gone to the Best-One convenience store in Richmond Road, Gillingham, where she stole the packet of Dunkers and, when confronted by staff, punched one in the face.

Prosecutor Mark Savage described how Jardine then picked up a metal display rack, smashing it twice at the door and cracking the glass panes.

She then unleashed her anger on a customer as he left the shop by striking him in the face, and shoved a passer-by who had come to the aid of her male friend after he had somehow ended up on the ground, seemingly unconscious.

Having been arrested and taken to hospital, the foul-mouthed mum resorted to abusing “everyone”, said the prosecutor, before kicking a female police officer in the knee.

There are people here being punched, slapped and kicked, including a very elderly man in his late 80s

Jardine later admitted a total of 11 charges in relation to robbery, shoplifting, racially aggravated assault, possessing class A and class B drugs, criminal damage and assault, committed in breach of a four-month suspended jail term.

But despite what her barrister called the “unedifying facts” as well as her “busy” criminal record of 16 previous convictions for 42 offences, the court was urged to take an exceptional course and spare her any more time behind bars.

Joe Davidson, defending, said that since being remanded into custody, his client had “adopted a deeply positive and constructive attitude”, and was now drug-free, on prescription anti-psychotic medication, and had completed numerous courses.

Adding that accommodation would also be available on her release, the lawyer told the court: “She is better equipped than she has ever been to remain out of trouble.

“She is asking for help, saying sorry for what happened, and is mortified by the life she has led for the last few years.

“But it is not entrenched....She is ready to turn a corner and asks Your Honour to give her an opportunity to do so.”

Recorder Passmore said however that due to concerns raised by the probation service over the risk Jardine posed, not just to the public but also family members, he would have to adjourn sentencing for a full report.

Referring to an initial assessment made, he remarked: “It says she poses a risk to family members, to police officers, her own daughter and, from this case, a risk to security guards, shop owners, customers, passers-by, emergency workers.

“There are people here being punched, slapped and kicked, including a very elderly man in his late 80s.

“In my judgment, in order to give full and proper consideration to the submission made on behalf of Ms Jardine that the right sentence is a further suspended sentence, it is necessary for there to be a further probation report.”

Jardine was remanded back into custody until her next hearing on November 5.