Coles worker hits out after customer spits on her – ‘I’ve never been treated like this’ 

A Coles manager has been spat on and had her eyes gouged by a customer after she confronted her for ignoring social distancing rules in the store and coming in  to the store the wrong way.

Disgusting footage shows the moment customer service boss Sharon Herringe, 49, was attacked in Coles in Vincentia,  on the NSW south coast on Wednesday when she reportedly stopped a customer from entering the store through the exit. 

The incident is the latest in a strong of violent attacks on supermarket workers during the COVID-19 lockdown and the subsequent increase in demand for groceries sparked by panic-buying from consumers worried shops would close down. 

There were $5000 on-the-spot fines introduced in NSW on Thursday for anyone who spits or coughs on front line workers to try and end the abuse.

Police have arrested Gabrielle O'Sullivan, 35,

Coles customer service manager Shannon Herringe (pictured left), 49, was spat on and assaulted by an aggressive customer on Wednesday. Police have arrested Gabrielle O’Sullivan, 35 (right)

Ms Herringe, who has worked for Coles for 15 years, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘It was disgusting what she did. It’s a disgrace.’ 

Ms Herringe told  7NEWS the customer tried to enter the Coles store through an exit that was set up for social distancing and it was as she was asked to leave that she became aggressive. 

She said she was spat on and was left with scratches and a gouged eye.  

The Coles worker said the violence being shown towards retail workers was unexpected and disappointing.    

She said: ‘I’m just shattered I guess. You’re not expecting that kind of thing going to work and helping people put food on the table, the violence.’

Ms Herringe called for more respect and compassion to be shown to retail workers during the coronavirus crisis.   

She said: ‘We are doing our best and we are just everyone’s sisters, mums, friends, dads, sons and daughters and you. We could be you.’    

The 35-year-old customer became aggressive (pictured) after she was refused entry to the South Coast store and proceeded to attack Ms Herringe and gouge at her eyes

The 35-year-old customer became aggressive (pictured) after she was refused entry to the South Coast store and proceeded to attack Ms Herringe and gouge at her eyes 

Police arrested Gabrielle O’Sullivan, 35,  at a Sanctuary Point home and charged her with common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm and damaging property.

She’s due to appear in Nowra Local Court on June 15. 

A police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia: ‘A 35-year-old woman was arrested after an incident in Vincentia and was charged with common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm and damaging property.’ 

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller labelled the widespread abusive behaviour shown throughout the crisis as a ‘disgrace’. 

‘I just can’t believe that with everything going on people are coughing and spitting on people,’ he said.   

New fines were introduced on Thursday to put an end to the abuse of coronavirus frontline workers.  

There is now a $5,000 on the spot fine for anyone caught endangering a frontline health worker, police officer or border force official in NSW.  

The extreme measures were announced in response to the ‘abhorrent’ incidents in the last few weeks which saw nurses and police coughed or spat on during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Supermarket workers have also reported being physically and verbally abused by customers during the COVID-19 crisis as panicked customers rush to the shops to stock up on goods.  

Hayley Evans (pictured) was working at Manly Corso Coles, in Sydney's northern beaches, at lunchtime on Saturday when a man three times her age called the police on her

Hayley Evans (pictured) was working at Manly Corso Coles, in Sydney’s northern beaches, at lunchtime on Saturday when a man three times her age called the police on her

Jordyn Nydrle (pictured) works at a Woolworths in Townsville, and came home after an exhausting shift and cried

Jordyn Nydrle (pictured) works at a Woolworths in Townsville, and came home after an exhausting shift and cried

A 16-year-old checkout worker at the Manly Corso Coles, Hayley Evans, had a man three times her age berate her and call the police on Saturday. 

He complained she was using hand sanitiser to protect against the virus instead of gloves and ‘started to raise his voice and get aggravated’

Hayley said the confrontation had left her feeling left her feeling  ‘anxious and scared’.

Her mother, Kate Munn, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘He was aggressive in his demeanour.’

She urged shoppers to ‘treat everyone with respect.’ 

‘All front-line, essential workers are exposing themselves to a higher risk than others to ensure that the world keeps turning during this period,’ Ms Munn said.  

An 18-year-old Woolworths worker was also at the receiving end of customer abuse. 

Jordyn Nydrle’s mother took a photo of her daughter in tears after being she returned from a shift at her Woolworths job. 

The teenager reached breaking point after an exhausting day last week when she was abused by irate shoppers who couldn’t buy everything they wanted due to sold-out items or product restrictions.

Jordyn’s mother Debara Nydrle said her daughter and colleagues often have ‘products thrown at them because they can’t have the third tins of beans… or if there isn’t any toilet paper’.  

Ms Nydrle shared a photo of red-faced and teary-eyed Jordyn in a heartbreaking Facebook post after the abuse on Monday proved too much.

While the teenager felt better ‘after a good cry and a good sleep’, Ms Nydrlen urged people to be kinder to those in customer service roles.

‘These people are like our doctors and nurses and essential workers, providing a service on the frontline. While everyone is in self-isolation they are put at risk.’ 

Woolworths posted signs around stores instructing shoppers not to abuse staff members

Woolworths posted signs around stores instructing shoppers not to abuse staff members

 

 

 

 

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