A teenage boy has been charged following the alleged assault of a supermarket worker at Goonellabah near Lismore earlier this month, in an incident that left the employee with serious facial injuries.
Emergency services were called to a supermarket on Simeoni Drive about 12.20pm on Sunday, May 17, following reports a staff member had been assaulted while confronting alleged shoplifters.
Police were told a 55-year-old male employee challenged four teenage boys over the alleged theft before one of the boys allegedly struck him in the face with a bottle.
The group then fled the scene.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the injured worker at the scene before he was taken to Lismore Base Hospital suffering serious facial injuries.
Following investigations by officers attached to Richmond Police District, a 16-year-old boy attended Lismore Police Station shortly before midday on Friday, where he was arrested and charged.
The teenager was charged with wounding a retail worker reckless as to causing actual bodily harm.
He was granted conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Friday, June 26.
Police said investigations into the incident are continuing.
The arrest comes amid ongoing efforts by the NSW Government and police to address rising violence and abuse directed at retail workers across the state.
Earlier this year, the Minns Government announced targeted consultation with retailers, unions, police and legal stakeholders on the introduction of Workplace Protection Orders aimed at preventing repeat offenders from targeting retail staff.
The proposed orders would allow courts to ban offenders from entering specific retail premises after incidents involving threats or violence.
Attorney General Michael Daley said violence against retail workers was unacceptable.
“No one deserves to be harassed, intimidated or abused simply for doing their job. Violence against retail workers has no place in New South Wales,” Mr Daley said when the consultation process was announced in March.
Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said the government had already strengthened laws protecting retail staff, including creating new offences in 2023 carrying penalties of up to 11 years’ imprisonment for assaulting, stalking or harassing retail workers.
“The NSW Government has zero tolerance for abuse or harassment of retail workers. Everyone has the right to feel safe and be safe at work,” Ms Cotsis said.
NSW Police have also been targeting repeat retail offenders through Operation Percentile, a statewide strategy involving high-visibility patrols and intelligence-led operations in shopping centres and retail precincts.
Since October 2025, police have charged 525 people, issued 392 court attendance notices and recovered more than $230,000 worth of allegedly stolen stock under the operation.
Anyone with information about the Goonellabah incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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