An “abhorrent” shoplifter threatened to stab Dundee supermarket staff with a dirty needle before spitting in the face of another worker.
Hayley Kenyon also claimed to have hepatitis during the incidents at two different stores in the city.
A sheriff slated Kenyon’s conduct, branding her actions “despicable”, before locking her up.
Kenyon was jailed in November last year for similar crimes, including stabbing a Lidl security guard with a needle.
Marks and Spencer stab threat
Dundee Sheriff Court was told how Kenyon first targeted the Marks and Spencer shop at Gallagher Retail Park, where staff became suspicious of her appearance.
Kenyon was stumbling and slurring her words so was challenged by staff over whether she had taken items without paying.
A female worker positioned herself between the door and Kenyon and was subjected to a torrent of abuse.
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie said: “The accused shouted that she would stab them.
“The accused stated that she had a dirty needle and would put that in them.
“The accused then left the store and walked towards the Olympia, continuing to shout and swear at the complainers.
“She showed them the middle finger.
“A female who appeared to be a friend of the accused walked past the store and apologised on her behalf for her behaviour.”
Bad B&M behaviour
Two days later, staff at B&M at Kingsway East felt Kenyon’s wrath after she was again confronted over suspected shoplifting.
She tried to get past staff a member before a struggle ensued between the pair over her bag.
Ms Ritchie said: “He told her to let go but she held on for a few minutes.
“The accused started shouting that she had a needle and was going to stab him and that she had hepatitis.
“The accused motioned as if to spit on him but nothing landed.
“She continued to threaten to stab him with a needle and said she had hepatitis and would get spat on by her.
“The witness pulled the bag and the accused fell to the ground.”
Kenyon then got to her feet and spat in the face of another worker before leaving the store.
She made off with fragrance, fabric softener and make-up brushes worth a total of £44.94.
‘Abhorrent’ conduct
The 42-year-old, currently remanded at HMP Polmont Brightons, pled guilty to behaving aggressively at Gallagher Retail Park on August 1 2022.
On August 3 2022, she behaved abusively and made violent threats at Kingsway East and stole household items.
Defence solicitor Gary McIlravey said Kenyon, who has previously served prison sentences, was not interested in having a social work report compiled on her.
He said: “She has a deep-rooted, long-standing drug addiction and things have gotten out of hand.
“The explanation is not giving mitigation for what is, by any measure, abhorrent conduct.
“She appreciates a custodial sentence is inevitable and she is trying to steer clear of drugs in an effort to return to the community drug-free.”
Spitting worse than punch
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith told Kenyon, who pled guilty via video link: “Spitting is the most despicable form of assault.
“If you had punched (the worker) on the face, at worst she would have had a black eye or a fractured eye socket where she would have been treated with paracetamol.
“Where you spit on someone, particularly where you act as you did and say you had a blood-borne virus, that causes anguish for that individual for weeks and even months if they have to undergo a series of blood tests to see if they have, while working long hours often for minimum wage, a life-altering infection.”
Kenyon was sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison.
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