A 53-year-old Mandurah woman, who spat on an Aldi employee’s face, has been fined more than $1000 and had her spent conviction application denied by Magistrate Anne Longden.
Correne Rechelle English pleaded guilty to common assault when she appeared in the Mandurah Magistrates Court, on Friday.
Police prosecutor Nev Palmer told the court English entered Mandurah Aldi, despite being previously banned from entering the store, before being apprehended at the checkout about 1pm, on August 1, 2018.
It was revolting, the way you behaved.
- Magistrate Anne Longden
English verbally abused the employee and walked away, before walking back and spitting on the victim’s face.
Sergeant Palmer said English fled the store, driving away in a Nissan Pulsar.
She was interviewed by police shortly after and admitted to the assault, he said.
English’s lawyer Giulia Reale-Fucile told the court her client understood spitting was not acceptable and was aware there was a potential for “disease-swapping”.
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Ms Giulia Reale-Fucile said English was overcharged at the store on two occasions, was unaware she was banned and would not have returned if she knew.
English, who has no prior record, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and engaged in regular counselling.
Magistrate Longden told the court English’s actions were unacceptable and denied her application for a spent conviction.
“It was revolting, the way you behaved – everyone agrees,” she said.
“You, like most others, are just going to have to wear those consequences.”
English was ordered to pay $1000 to the victim and $205.30 costs.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
