Woman fined for abusing and spitting at worker in Clapham Common little Waitrose

A woman has been fined for verbally attacking and spitting at a worker in the Clapham Common Waitrose.

Lesley Grilli appeared in court yesterday (Monday, February 28) and pled guilty to abusing and spitting at the worker in Clapham's little Waitrose in November 2020.

In a video taken by one of a dozen witnesses to the incident, Grilli verbally attacks the employee standing behind the till, repeatedly shouting "you're dead" at him, before kicking a display of Christmas trees.

Agitated at not being able to purchase her items, Grilli then walks around to the corner of the till and spits at him – her saliva landing on the plastic cover erected around the till due to coronavirus restrictions.

Grilli continues her verbal tirade, saying: "I got f***ing money in my account, you're gonna decline me?"

She added: "You're gonna die, you're dead, you're dead."

Throughout the incident the Waitrose staff member is seen attempting to calm Grilli down as he explains the situation.

In the background a security guard can be heard calling the police, while a Waitrose colleague approaches Grilli to remove her from the Clapham Common branch.

As she walks towards the exit, Grilli takes her anger out on the store's Christmas tree display, kicking the products and saying: "F***ing Christmas trees, f***ing Christmas s**t.

"I've got money in my account, you gonna decline me you mother***ing c***s."

The Waitrose employee who was attacked told reporters at the time that Grilli had attempted to buy items but was swearing at him, and when he asked her to stop or exit the shop, she began verbally abusing him.

Grilli, who has a previous conviction of criminal damage from 2017, initially pleaded not guilty but changed her plea to guilty and was sentenced under a section of the Public Order Act which includes both spitting and abusive phrasing.

She was ordered to pay the victim £100 compensation and handed a £150 general fine, £350 fine for costs and £34 victim surcharge.