Two Dundee shop workers have spoken of their relief after a man who attacked them while trying to steal a fudge bar was given an eight-month prison sentence.
Noor Ulhaq’s nose was broken and Tariq Siddqi was punched in the eye as Charlie Bell carried out the attack at the Supersmart store in the Douglas area of the city.
Bell (28), of Strathcarron Place, admitted that on the evening of February 24 he punched and headbutted Tariq Siddqi and punched and kicked Noor Ulhaq at the Baluniefield Road shop.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Mr Bell had been leaving the store having paid for his shopping when he picked up a packet of fudge.
Mr Siddqi had become concerned that Mr Bell was set to shoplift and had confronted him about the sweets, leading to a scuffle.
In an attempt to assist his colleague, Mr Ulhaq confronted Bell who proceeded to punch him in the face and kick him in the body, resulting in Mr Ulhaq sustaining a broken nose.
Yesterday Bell admitted that he had ”completely overreacted” to the situation and had been drinking beforehand.
However, Sheriff Alistair Duff felt that a custodial sentence was suitable given the extremity of the assault.
Sentencing him, he said: ”This was a shocking attack on these men. They are working in the public service and they never know who will come through their door.
“The public has to know that people who behave in such a shocking way will be punished.”’Still sore’Bell was sentenced to eight months in prison, backdated to 28 March.
Speaking after court, Mr Ulhaq told of their frightening ordeal.
”I was so scared but it could have been a lot worse,” he said. ”He could have had a weapon with him.”
Mr Ulhaq was taken to hospital by his brother, shop owner Mohammad Adrees.
On their way into the accident and emergency department they came across Bell, who was taken to the hospital to have a bandaged arm inspected before the police dealt with him.
Mr Adrees said: ”He saw us going in as he was coming out. He started shouting at us again and swearing.
”I just told my staff to ignore it.”
Mr Ulhaq’s nose was treated but he had to wait seven days for it to be was reset.
”The surgeon fixed it on the Friday after the attack,” he said. ”I had to go a whole week with a broken nose.
”I still have a wee bit of pain. When I touch it it’s still sore. I’m very relieved he’s been locked up.”’So frightening’Mr Siddiqi added: ”It was so frightening. First he punched me in the eye, then he broke Noor’s nose and then he punched me on the head. I’m very relieved now.”
Since the attack Mr Adrees revealed he had upped security in a bid to keep his staff safe.
”It’s a very good thing that he has been locked up,” he said. ”He caused quite a lot of problems for the staff.
”He kept coming in the shop, not buying anything, trying to steal things and not walking away. On that day he had come in about five times.
”Since the attack we need to have five members of staff on and obviously we have to pay extra money to them.
”We have more people on at night and at the weekend. We never take an evening off just in case.”
He now hopes that Bell’s sentence will deter other would-be shoplifters.
He said: ”Maybe these kind of people will know not to do it and will know we have CCTV. We have 16 cameras and two outside.
”Most customers are nice but these people are causing problems.”