Woolworths to ban shopper accused of spitting on security guard
Woolworths is “taking steps” to ban a man from one of its stores after he allegedly spat on a security guard at a supermarket in Sydney’s west.
The man, 27, was at a Woolies in Merrylands about 3pm on April 19 when it is alleged he became verbally abusive towards customers.
A staff member asked him to stop and it is alleged the 27-year-old pushed the worker.
A security guard, not employed by Woolies, asked him to leave.
It is further alleged the shopper responded by spitting on the security guard, punching him in the face and knocking him to the ground.
NSW Police say the man then ran from the store before he was apprehended by other staff members after a “short struggle”.
Officers from Cumberland Police Area Command came to the scene and the man was taken to Granville Police Station.
He was charged with two counts of assault and one count of reckless grievous harm.
The man was not fined the $5000 for spitting as that law was not in place at the time of the alleged offence.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court on June 27.
A Woolworths spokesperson told Yahoo News the man’s behaviour was “appalling” and the supermarket “will be taking steps to have the customer banned from the store”.
The security guard was taken to Westmead Hospital where he underwent surgery for a serious lip injury and two workers were treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to a NSW Police statement.
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