A woman from Oxford who had amassed more than 200 prior offences has been sentenced to prison for violent behaviour and threats.

Charlotte McCollin, residing on Botley Road in Oxford, appeared before Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, March 25 for sentencing.

The 34-year-old admitted to two charges of assault by beating, one charge of witness intimidation, one charge of theft and one charge of criminal damage.

The court was informed that McCollin was reported to officers by Michelle Marra, leading to her arrest before being granted bail.

On December 28 last year, McCollin encountered Ms Marra while cycling and requested money toward purchasing drugs, the court heard.

Prosecutor Jan Hayne stated that McCollin seized Ms Marra’s scarf, causing her breathing to be restricted for approximately 30 seconds.

She subsequently hurled a gold-coloured can at her.

On December 31, McCollin visited Ms Marra’s residence and declared that she had extensive involvement in the crack cocaine trade, that locals were familiar with her, and that police would neither apprehend nor stop her because she controlled them.

She stated that Ms Marra had chosen the wrong person to antagonise and that everyone in the area who knew her had Ms Marra in their sights and would never be prevented from continuing their activities.

She instructed Ms Marra to accept whatever occurred and to avoid contacting or involving police under any circumstances.

She then struck Ms Marra across the face, resulting in a red mark and swelling, the court was told.

Ms Hayne observed that this constituted a pattern of behaviour that caused both harm and distress.

On January 2, McCollin forced her way into Ms Marra’s flat once more, destroyed a mobile phone and stole Diazepam tablets.

The court was told that McCollin’s criminal record included 74 convictions covering 205 separate offences.

Ms Hayne noted that McCollin had maintained a prolonged association with class A drugs.

The court heard that McCollin had violated the terms of a suspended sentence and a conditional discharge.

Defence lawyer Peter Du Feu submitted that McCollin was making efforts to maintain focus and that imprisonment was becoming an all-too-regular experience for her.

He explained that she found greater stability while incarcerated because of the absence of disorder.

He described her as having experienced significant hardship throughout her life and having committed acquisitive crimes to obtain drugs.

He stated that she had expressed remorse for her actions and for those she had harmed, acknowledging her own difficult and challenging nature.

He said she wished to break this recurring pattern.

Judge Michael Roques remarked that McCollin possessed an extensive catalogue of previous convictions, which served as a significant aggravating feature.

McCollin received a two-year prison sentence along with a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.