A supermarket worker who helped catch a shoplifter says she is “fed up” with having to deal with criminals.

The woman assisted a security guard at Folkestone’s town centre Sainsbury’s to catch Daniel Killacky, suffering a bruise to her leg.

When Killacky appeared before the town’s magistrates, her statement was read to the court.

In it she said: “I’m fed up with people coming into the store and feeling they have the right to just take things and give us abuse, violence and bad language.

“I’m fed up with having to deal with the mess left by these people - it’s happening more and more.

“People recognise that the Government and courts are not being effective. We should not have to put up with this. These people should be taken off the street.”

She added that she felt frightened about coming to work.

Killacky, of no fixed address, admitted theft and assault.

Prosecutor Anna Kachingwe told the court that Killacky went to Sainsbury’s on March 18 and was seen to pick up four joints of meat and a chocolate bar. He was challenged and became agressive as he fought to escape.

She added: “The security guard was assisted by another member of staff and in the process of trying to restrain him she was kicked in the leg and sustained a three to four inch bruise that was swollen and tender.”

Mark Trafford, for Killacky, said he had hit the woman with a flailing leg.

He added: “He had not been aggressive. The response from the guard was to simply detain him but it could be seen in come circles that the guard’s actions transgressed.

“It is my view that he is not entitled to put him on the floor and jump on him and then be joined by other members of staff jumping on him.”

Mr Trafford added that the theft was due to debts accrued through taking heroin, but he was off the drug whilst in jail and taking methadone.

Killacky was jailed for 30 days for the assault and another 30 days for the theft, to run concurrently.