A 62-year-old woman has been charged after the owner of a takeaway in Houghton-le-Spring was slashed with a knife during an alleged attempted robbery on Saturday night.

Carole Lesley Dixon, of Ironside Street, Houghton, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning charged with assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, attempted robbery, two counts of possession of a bladed article and common assault. She was remanded in custody and will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on 7 December.

What happened at Pizza Castle

Northumbria Police said officers were called just before 11pm on Saturday 7 November to a report of a disturbance at a commercial premises on Newbottle Street in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland.

A police spokesperson said a woman had entered the premises and allegedly used a knife to cause slash wounds to a man inside the store following a brief verbal altercation. Police believe the assault happened as part of an attempted robbery, although nothing was taken.

The victim, Hassan Baghcheband, who runs Pizza Castle with his wife Nasri Al Nasser, suffered wounds to his head and upper body and spent a night in hospital. He has since been discharged. The couple have run the shop since 2010.

Their son Sooroosh told ChronicleLive that his father’s injuries had fortunately not been critical, and said the family had been overwhelmed by messages of support from local people.

Community rallies round

Neighbours and regular customers have rallied around the family since the attack. Alan Morton, who works at the B&M store across the road from Pizza Castle, launched a fundraising page to help the couple while the shop is closed, and it has already raised more than £600.

Mr Morton said he had known Nasri and Hassan for about 15 years and described them as lovely people who had always supported local charity events. He said the fundraiser was intended to help tide the family over and show how cared for they are.

Sooroosh Baghcheband said the family did not know how or when they would be able to return to normal, pointing to the loss of income and stock that would go to waste while the shop remains shut.

Police investigation

Northumbria Police said a 62-year-old woman was arrested at the scene on Saturday night and taken into police custody. Detectives are treating the incident as an attempted robbery in which a knife was used, and the case will now be heard at Newcastle Crown Court next month.

The attack has prompted concern among other traders on Newbottle Street, Houghton-le-Spring’s main shopping street, about safety for small businesses trading late into the evening.