Shoplifter killed Asda security guard in struggle over stolen alcohol

A shoplifter who killed an Asda security guard as he tried to prevent her from leaving the supermarket with stolen goods has been warned that she faces a “significant” jail sentence.

Natasha Smith’s aggressive and threatening behaviour resulted in Alun Harris-Richards suffering a heart attack and dying at the store in Arbroath, Angus.

During the fatal incident, the thief levelled a false claim against the victim, 61, of assaulting her as she tried to leave the premises with alcohol she was in the process of stealing

The 38-year-old admitted killing the former Royal Marine on June 30, 2024, at the supermarket at Westway Retail Park, when she appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Smith shouted, swore, made a false allegation against him and claimed that he would be prosecuted and repeatedly tried to pull a bag from him.

The charge said that as a result, Mr Harris-Richards, who had undiagnosed heart disease, “suffered such physical and emotional stress that he then and there sustained a heart attack, fell to the ground, struck his head and died”.

She was originally accused of assaulting him and repeatedly pushing him on the body, but the Crown amended the charge, removing the assault allegation, before she pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of Mr Harris-Richards.

Smith has amassed a record of criminal offending for repeated shoplifting, theft, drugs and assault in both Scotland and England, but has never previously served a jail sentence, the court heard.

Footage from a bodycam worn by Mr Harris-Richards was shown to the court as Smith shouted and screamed, claiming: “You’re not allowed to touch me” and “Get your f****ing hands off me.”

Smith could be heard stating to the victim: “Who do you think you are f***ing Hulk?” as the thief continued to pull at the bag containing bottles of alcohol, which she said she planned to sell to a pub.

After Mr Harris-Richards had fallen to the floor, Smith continued to struggle with two women employees at the store and grabbed one of them and put her hands around her neck and told her, “I will end you”.

They managed to grab the bag from Smith, who walked back towards the fallen victim before she was pushed into the foyer by the women employees. This resulted in an alarm being triggered, with staff suspecting she had further stolen goods in a handbag, and after a further struggle, that bag fell to the floor.

Smith continued to shout at the employee: “I will end you” and punched her on the face and pulled her hair before leaving and being detained by police.

Smith admitted assaulting and behaving in a threatening and abusive way towards the female member of staff in an offence under the Protection of Workers legislation.

Advocate depute Adrian Stalker said that shortly before Mr Harris-Richards died, Smith was seen in the spirits aisle at the supermarket, and a staff member became suspicious that she might be shoplifting.

The prosecutor said: “Other members of staff were alerted, including the deceased Alun Harris-Richards.” Smith went to a self-service checkout area carrying a can of alcohol and bags, but then went towards the exit, triggering alarms.

Mr Harris-Richards and another staff member intercepted her and took hold of a reusable bag she was carrying containing two bottles, but Smith would not let it go.

During the confrontation, Mr Harris-Richards’ breathing became laboured, and he fell to the floor.

Mr Stalker said: “He was immediately unresponsive. The deceased received first aid, CPR and emergency medical treatment from staff, customers and paramedics where he had fallen, These efforts were to no avail.”

A judge told Smith, formerly of North Grimsby, Arbroath, that the only possible disposal for her offending was “a significant custodial sentence”.

Lord Haldane adjourned sentence on her for the preparation of a background report and told her she would continue to be remanded in prison.