Zoe Bending, 50, of Oldbury, has been jailed for eight weeks after assaulting a supermarket manager with a wine bottle during a theft in Rowley Regis. The incident occurred on June 19 at Heron Foods, where Bending struck the manager on the side of the head as she attempted to flee with stolen wine and steak.
The victim described feeling "sick" and "hazy" after the assault. The manager had intervened to stop Bending from leaving with the items, according to prosecutor Mr Purser, who told Birmingham Magistrates' Court: "The victim says she tried to intercept her to stop [Bending] from stealing the items."
Guilty Plea and Theft Spree
Bending pleaded guilty to assault and 12 theft offences, having stolen goods worth hundreds of pounds from Tesco and One Stop stores between June and September. Her defence told the court that she had been through a "chaotic period" following her brother's death and was struggling financially.
Magistrate Mrs Goodwin-Coles addressed Bending directly, stating: "The person you assaulted was a member of the public doing a service for the public." The court also ordered Bending to pay the victim £100 in compensation.
Court Outcome and Impact
The eight-week jail sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault on a retail worker, who was performing a service for the community at the time of the attack. The compensation payment is intended to address the harm caused to the victim, who suffered physical and emotional effects from the incident.
Bending's guilty pleas to the assault and theft charges were taken into account in sentencing, though the court's decision underscores the consequences of violent behaviour towards shop staff. The case highlights the risks faced by supermarket employees when dealing with theft incidents.
