A Lidl worker was punched in the face by a customer who “lost control” during a row she had with the supermarket employee over plastic carrier bags.
Lorraine Burridge, 40, was seen helping herself to carrier bags in a Lidl store in Rock Ferry, Liverpool, despite having been told staff would hand out the bags themselves.
Kerri Mills, who worked at the Lidl, said Burridge started "being mouthy" so she explained to her the reason staff gave out the bags was so people wouldn't steal them.
Liverpool Magistrates Court heard how an argument started as Burridge said Ms Mills accused her of stealing and she punched her in the face under her left eye, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Ms Mills told the court : "She said I was accusing her of stealing them. I said I wasn’t accusing, I was explaining. She was standing the normal distance away but came closer and punched me in the face under my left eye.
"I pushed her away to ensure she could not punch me again. I felt a colleague leaning over my shoulder to stop her and I walked away and stood behind the till and then went to the back of the store."
The court heard Burridge was arrested at the store, where she was a regular customer, on January 11 of last year.
When interviewed, she said she went to pick a bag up and Ms Mills accused her of stealing them.
She said: "I lost control because of personal circumstances, my dad died and my sister died last year."
She said she “hated herself” for what she had done but denied hitting her in the face. She instead claimed that she had thrown a punch which did not connect.
Burridge added she had not taken her medication and had mental health issues. The Aldersgate, Rock Ferry local pleaded guilty to assault by beating on December 22 last year.
The court heard the defendant has previous convictions including assault but has been out of trouble for 17 years. Her lawyer Leigh Irlam said Burridge was "extremely embarrassed and mortified by her behaviour.
"No-one should go to work and be assaulted by a customer. She can only say she is sorry and does not intend to behave like this again."
Burridge, who is signed off sick, was referred for therapy but is on a long waiting list, she added.
The bench imposed a nine month community order and ordered her to carry out 10 days rehabilitation activities, pay costs and a fine totalling £300 plus £100 compensation to her victim.
