Shoplifter hit security guard with bottle

The New World store in Regent.

A recidivist shoplifter struck a security guard from behind with a stolen bottle of drink when confronted about the theft.

Whangarei mother Mara Kemp, 28, pleaded guilty in the Whangarei District Court this week to eight charges of shoplifting and two of aggravated assault.

Her confrontation with a security guard took place outside New World in Regent on September 12 last year, after she left the supermarket with assorted groceries in a bag.

While the security guard confronted her, a man drove up behind him and started yelling abuse before Kemp hit him from behind with a bottle of drink.

She then jumped in the passenger's seat of the car and was driven away.

Her shoplifting spree using a dark-coloured bag comprised three thefts from Caltex service stations on Western Hills Drive and Tarewa Rd, three from Z Energy on Water St, and thefts from New World in Regent and Bunnings.

On August 3, 2012, she left Caltex with a number of chocolate bars and sushi worth $23.10 without paying for them.

She stole a Red Bull, a box of multigrain cereal, Weetbix, a can of spaghetti and pies from Z Energy on different occasions. On August 30, 2013, Kemp was approached by an employee of Caltex on Tarewa Rd after she walked out of the store with three pies without paying for them.

She continued to walk away, later pushing the female employee in her face a number of times and causing her to stumble backwards.

At Bunnings on October 20, she walked around the store and gathered various tools and gas cartridges valued at $507 before walking out. She had denied being involved in the thefts, saying she had never been to Z Energy or Bunnings.

Kemp was remanded on bail to re-appear for sentencing on March 4.