A DOCTOR’S receptionist was left shaken after being confronted by a knife-wielding woman.

Lisa Webb was cornered by the woman at the Douglas Grove surgery, in Witham, and the blade held inches from her face.

She got away and police later arrested Gillian Philpott, 46.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard she was suffering from mental health problems at the time of the incident on April 9.

She had gone to the surgery and asked to see a nurse. She left, but returned and asked to see another nurse and was ushered into a room. As she turned around, she pulled out a vegetable knife with a 4ins blade and ran towards Miss Webb saying: “I need help. I'm going to kill somebody.”

Samantha Lowther, prosecuting, said: “Miss Webb was terrified.”

Philpott, of Longfields, Witham, admitted possessing a bladed article in public and was given an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. She was also told to keep appointments under a mental health treatment order.

Sasha Bailey, mitigating, said Philpott had a number of mental health issues and would benefit from help.