Shoplifter hurled dog food at chasing guard

Photo/File

A determined security guard dodged a can of dog food and bag of potatoes in pursuit of a woman who shoplifted from Pak'n Save.

Emily Jane Frater was in the supermarket with her 14-year-old daughter when she concealed grocery items in a black bag she was carrying, police prosecutor Sergeant Stephen Butler said.

Frater went through the checkout, paying for some items but not the ones she had concealed, Mr Butler told the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.

Security stopped her as she went to leave, and she agreed to come to the security office. However, once there, she became "aggressive and abusive" and threw the stolen items from the bag across the desk before fleeing.

Police were contacted and a security guard followed Frater.

"As the defendant crossed the street she threw a small bag of potatoes and a can of dog food," Mr Butler said.

Frater was about 4m away from the victim, but missed. She screamed abusive threats at the victim, before entering a nearby service station and locking herself in the bathroom.

Frater refused to come out of the bathroom when police arrived.

After about 10 minutes, she opened the door and was "immediately combative and abusive towards police officers", Mr Butler said.

Frater resisted arrest and kicked at police while they tried to subdue her. She refused to walk outside and had to be carried to the patrol car.

While police tried to get Frater into the car, she stomped on an officer's foot twice and spat in his face.

She pleaded guilty in court to assaulting police, resisting police, shoplifting, and common assault.

Defence lawyer Raukawa Simon said Frater was "very apologetic" and had written a letter of apology explaining her personal circumstances. Frater had just had her child come back into her care, Ms Simon said.

"What a terrible example she's set for her 14-year-old daughter, that's all I can say," Judge David Cameron said.

He labelled Frater's behaviour "disgraceful" and remanded her to April 6 for sentence.