Latest news with #retailworker
News.com.au
24-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘I was terrified': Uber driver charged with assaulting female supermarket worker
An Uber driver has been charged with the assault of a female supermarket employee in broad daylight in Western Australia. In confronting CCTV footage, the male ride-share driver appeared to kick the woman to the ground as she handed over a grocery order in the carpark of an inner-city Perth supermarket. The 27-year-old man from Beckenham is alleged by police to have made verbal threats against the woman before physically assaulting her, then hopping into his car and driving away. He was charged with assaulting a retail worker and making a threat on Wednesday, and is set to appear in court in August. The young woman, who is in her early 20s and wished to remain anonymous, told the ABC had asked the driver to separate the delivery orders before he allegedly kicked her. 'I was so scared, like, terrified,' she said. Her mother, Jodi Hackford, said the alleged assault 'was quite clearly terrifying'. 'She was obviously really upset, and told me how scared she was,' Ms Hackford told the national broadcaster. In a statement, Uber said it was aware of the incident and apologised to the worker 'for her experience and the distress this has caused'. 'Uber does not tolerate any form of violence on the platform, and is now actively investigating the matter,' the company said. 'All driver partners and delivery people are required to pass a criminal check in accordance with each state's regulations before being eligible to receive trip or order requests. 'Our Community Guidelines clearly set out the rules that we expect all users to follow, and a breach of these guidelines can result in loss of access to the Uber app.' Ms Hackford said her daughter's alleged assault presented 'a real concern for female safety generally', as well as a need for information-sharing about alleged incidents with drivers between rideshare companies. 'What checks are they putting in place to make sure that the public is safe?,' she said. According to the Australian Retailers Association, there have been over 700,000 incidents of customer abuse in the past year alone – more than half of which were considered serious and included physical assault. A survey in December also revealed 87 per cent of retail and fast-food workers across the country had experienced abuse. Last July, the West Australian government passed laws to strengthen punishments for those who assault retail workers who, if convicted, can face up to seven years in prison or a fine of as much as $36,000. Since the laws' implementation, 329 people have been charged. 'Customer abuse is something we've seen really ramp up in the last decade in Australia and WA hasn't been immune to that,' Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association WA branch secretary Ben Harris told the ABC. 'We've seen a lot of members reporting increases in customer aggression, which is leading to violence and making them feel unsafe in their workplaces.'
ABC News
23-07-2025
- ABC News
A ride-share driver has been charged with assault over this car park incident
A ride-share driver who allegedly kicked a Perth retail worker to the ground in an Inglewood carpark, has been charged with assault and making threats.
ABC News
23-07-2025
- ABC News
Perth supermarket worker allegedly assaulted by Uber driver delivering groceries
Confronting footage of a young female supermarket worker who appears to be kicked to the ground by an older male ride-share driver has been obtained by the ABC, showing an alleged assault in broad daylight. The woman, who does not want to be named, said she was left terrified by the incident which came "out of nowhere" as she was handing over groceries in an inner-city Perth supermarket car park. Police allege the 27-year-old man from Beckenham had a verbal altercation with the woman last Tuesday, when she was taking an order out to him. It's alleged he made verbal threats before physically assaulting her, hopping back in his car and driving away. He has been charged with assaulting a retail worker and making a threat. He's set to appear in court next month. CCTV obtained by the ABC appears to show the retail worker talking to a delivery driver before he appears to kick her, causing her to fall to the ground. The worker, who is in her early 20s, alleges the kick came after she asked the man to separate the delivery orders. "I was so scared, like, terrified," she said. The worker said when her employer discovered the driver worked for Uber, they asked the company to ban him from driving for them until the incident has been fully investigated. The woman's mother Jodi Hackford said the incident was "shocking" and "a real concern" for female safety generally. "To be in that situation was quite clearly terrifying," she said. She questioned whether there was information sharing between rideshare companies, so they were all aware of alleged incidents with drivers. "What checks are they [rideshare companies] putting in place to make sure that the public are safe?," she said. In a statement to the ABC, an Uber spokesperson said the company was aware of the incident and apologised to the supermarket worker "for her experience and the distress this has caused." "Uber does not tolerate any form of violence on the platform, and is now actively investigating the matter," the statement said. "All driver partners and delivery people are required to pass a criminal check in accordance with each state's regulations before being eligible to receive trip or order requests. "Our Community Guidelines clearly set out the rules that we expect all users to follow, and a breach of these guidelines can result in loss of access to the Uber app." In July last year, WA passed new laws to strengthen punishments for people who assault retail workers. Since then, 329 people have been charged. The laws mean people who are convicted of attacking staff in the course of their duties could receive up to seven years in prison, or three years and a fine up to $36,000. Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association WA branch secretary Ben Harris said the recent allegations were "shocking". "Customer abuse and violence is something we've seen really ramp up in the last decade in Australia and WA hasn't been immune to that," he said. "We've seen a lot of members reporting increases in customer aggression, which is leading to violence and making them feel unsafe in their workplaces." Mr Harris said if a someone was aggressive towards a retail worker, stores should consider whether they should be allowed to visit again. He said long after the bruises healed, victims could experience longer term trauma. "They still bear the scars, particularly psychological scars that come from that," Mr Harris said. Mr Harris said he understood the state government was looking at further protections to restrain and remove people who demonstrate they can't behave appropriately in a retail environment.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Lovestruck men mob me on nights out as I look just like Sabrina Carpenter – they buy me so many drinks & beg to date me
A RETAIL worker looks so much like Sabrina Carpenter that starstruck fellas mob her on nights out, demanding selfies and trying to woo her with drinks. Olivia Fano is regularly stopped for selfies by stunned strangers while out and about, believing she's the Please Please Please singer. 5 The 20-year-old admits it's an 'amazing' compliment to be likened to the pint-sized hitmaker, admitting she attracts even more attention on nights out from lustful blokes. The similarity has definitely ramped things up in the dating department, with 5ft 6in Olivia admitting 'a lot more' guys have asked her out in the last year. Olivia first noticed the resemblance, including her hairstyle and make-up, when her sister pointed it out just as the songstress had her big break with Espresso. But Olivia, who is currently single, insists she already rocked the vintage-inspired look before Sabrina burst onto the scene, citing Marilyn Monroe as her style inspiration. Olivia said: "I do see the resemblance, I noticed it two years ago and my sister mentioned it, and I thought 'I kind of do look like her.' "Since then it's been constant, especially over the last year. I've had it in club bathrooms, supermarkets, coffee shops, pretty much everywhere. "People automatically think I did the hair to look like her, I've had this hairstyle for years. I think that's the first thing people notice. "We have quite similar facial features, the eyes, the eyebrows, the nose, and the way I do my make-up. I do a blush lip-liner look. "I do think I resemble her a lot more when I have make-up on, it's just my style. I had a brief obsession with Marilyn Monroe and got into lipstick." "I just started doing heavier make-up and found the lip liner and I've used the same products for two years now. Sabrina Carpenter shows ex Barry Keoghan what he's missing as she goes pantless on the Met Gala red carpet "I probably get it every other day. I get it quite a lot when I'm at work and when I go to Manchester or Liverpool or on a night out, I do get it a lot. "I was at a club in Manchester and this boy really thought I was her. "He kept buying me drinks and was telling everyone so then everyone else started buying me drinks. "I had to give some of the drinks to my friends because it was too much. "When I was in Prague this guy turned around and gasped really loud because he thought I was her. I was in this yellow babydoll dress so it was very her style. "I get a lot of people stop me in the street, just to say 'oh my God'. I do notice people looking at me and then they have to explain themselves. "I've had quite a few people ask me for photos, when I went to Leeds last year I got a lot of photos then. "I don't mind it, it's an amazing compliment." The resemblance to Sabrina has helped increase Olivia's confidence as she is now used to talking to strangers all the time. Olivia said: "When people would look at me on the street I thought 'I have something on my face', but I don't get as anxious anymore because I know people just look at me and think I look like Sabrina Carpenter. "It's the first thing they bring up. It's almost like the perfect pick-up line, because they just come up and say it. "A lot more boys have asked me out in the last year and when I go on dates it's the first thing they say. "I did date a guy and one of the first things he said to me was, 'has anyone told you that you look like Sabrina Carpenter?'." Now Olivia, who has been a huge Sabrina fan since her Disney channel days, said she even answers to the name as so many people call her that. Olivia said: "I'm a massive fan of hers, even since Disney channel. Next time she does a tour I'm definitely going to get tickets. "I'm quite a chatty and bubbly person. I'm usually shy around new people but now that I get so many people coming up to me and talking to me, I'm definitely more confident. "People are automatically nice because they have a compliment to say first thing. I always meet really nice people." "They feel like they know me. People call me Sabrina and I just answer to it now." 5 5 5
CTV News
02-07-2025
- CTV News
Woman spits on retail worker: Police
A member of the Chatham-Kent Police Service seen in Chatham, Ont. on April 10, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) A woman has been charged after allegedly spitting on a retail worker at a store in Chatham. On Tuesday, police were called around 12:30 p.m. to the business on King Street West for a disturbance. When officers arrived, they said the complainant was visibly upset and said she was allegedly spat on by a woman. Officers took statements and reviewed audio evidence and said the accused spat on the victim after being refused service due to not having enough money. The Chatham-Kent Police Service said the accused also threatened the victim, which was confirmed by a witness. A 40-year-old Chatham-Kent woman is now facing charges for assault and uttering threats.
