A ROW about carrier bags in a supermarket ended with an angry customer punching a woman assistant in the face.

Lorraine Burridge was seen helping herself to carrier bags in the Lidl store in St Pauls Road in Rock Ferry and a court heard that it was after she was told that the staff give them out the incident happened.

“She started being mouthy and I informed her the reason we given them out is to stop people stealing them,” explained victim Kerri Mills.

“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,” said Ms Mills.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that 40-year-old Burridge was a regular customer at the store and was arrested on January 11.

When interviewed she said that she went to pick a bag up and Ms Mills accused her of stealing them. “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 saying she had thrown a punch which did not connect.

Burridge added that she had not taken her medication and had mental health issues.

Burridge, of Aldersgate, Rock Ferry, pleaded guilty to assault by beating on December 22 last year.

The court heard that the defendant has previous convictions including assault but has been out of trouble for 17 years.

Her lawyer Leigh Irlam said that Burridge was “extremely embarrassed and mortified by her behaviour…..No-one should go to work and be assaulted by a customer.”

Miss Irlam added, “She can only say she is sorry and does not intend to behave like this again.”

Burridge, who is signed off sick, has been 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.