A former Thanet councillor accused of shoplifting from a garden centre has told a jury: "I hadn't done anything wrong. When I left the centre I thought the goods were all paid for."

Helen Smith has denied stealing more than £840 worth of items and then hitting the garden centre manager with her car as she tried to leave.

Smith, of St John's Avenue, Ramsgate, told the jury: "My understanding was that the items had been paid for by my partner.

"In fact as we left the store I asked him: 'Are we sorted?' He said yes - and I took that to mean that the items had been paid for."

She told the court she had been suffering from a degenerative illness which meant she had to get around using crutches.

At the time of the incident she told the jury she was standing as a candidate for the Thanet District and Ramsgate Town Councils in May.

She said she had gone to the Wyevale Garden Centre with her partner, who was with his guide dog.

Smith, 53, said she bought Easter bunnies for family members and some clothing, a parcel, a jar, jam labels, pack-a-macs, mugs, tea towels and handbags.

Her partner bought an item from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill and she bought some items at The Works, which are franchise stalls inside the centre.

"In The Works, my card was declined and I needed to transfer money from my partner's phone," she said.

After leaving through the entrance, she got into her car and put it in reverse.

She added: "I was aware of a white van behind me. I just waited. The next thing I knew there was knock on the window.

"A woman asked me if she could see the till receipt and I turned to my partner.

"She kept on saying I wouldn't find it because I hadn't got one. She was very angry, very intimidating and very aggressive.

"My partner said: 'Turn the car, just go. They can't do this. They can't hold you'."

She claimed that the manager stood in front on the car waving her arms saying: "Go on, hit me. Then I can do you for that."

Smith denied driving dangerously or injuring the manager Kerry Walker.

The jury has retired to consider its verdict.