A shoplifter killed an Asda security guard as she tried to flee a supermarket with stolen alcohol.
Natasha Smith’s aggressive and threatening behaviour towards ex-Royal Marine Alun Harris-Richards caused him to suffer a fatal heart attack on June 30, 2024.
As Mr Harris-Richards tried to prevent her from leaving the Asda store in Arbroath, Angus, Smith falsely accused the security guard of assaulting her.
The 38-year-old shouted and swore at Mr Harris-Richards and repeatedly tried to pull a bag from him.
At the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 28 January, Smith admitted to killing the 61-year-old at the store on Westway Retail Park.
The charge stated that during the altercation, Mr Harris-Richards, who had an undiagnosed heart disease, ‘suffered such physical and emotional stress that he then and there sustained a heart attack, fell to the ground, struck his head and died’.
Smith told the court that she had planned to sell the stolen alcohol to a pub.
The benefit claimant, whose only child is in foster care, has amassed a record of criminal offending for repeated shoplifting, theft, drugs and assault in both Scotland and England but has never previously served a jail sentence, the court heard.
Natasha Smith, 38, pled guilty to culpable homicide on Wednesday, 28 January, 2026
Footage from a bodycam worn by Mr Harris-Richards was shown to the court.
It showed Smith shouting and screaming at the security guard, claiming: ‘You’re not allowed to touch me’ and ‘Get your f***ing hands off me.’
Smith also told the victim: ‘Who do you think you are f***ing Hulk?’ as the irate thief continued to pull at the bag containing bottles of alcohol.
After Mr Harris-Richards fell to the floor, Smith continued to struggle with two female employees.
She grabbed one of them, Chloe Robinson, put her hands around her neck and told her: ‘I will end you.’
The staff managed to grab the bag from Smith, who walked back towards the fallen victim before she was pushed into the foyer by the employees.
This resulted in an alarm being triggered as staff suspected she had more stolen goods in a handbag.
After a further struggle between Smith and the employees, her handbag fell to the floor.
The Asda store on Westway Retail Park, Arbroath, Angus, where Mr Harris-Richards worked as a security guard when Smith tried to steal the alcohol
Smith continued to shout ‘I will end you’ towards Ms Robinson, punched her in the face and pulled her hair before leaving.
She was later detained by police.
Smith admitted assaulting and behaving in a threatening and abusive way towards Ms Robinson in an offence under protection of workers legislation.
Advocate depute Adrian Stalker said that shortly before Mr Harris-Richards died, Smith was seen in the spirits aisle at the supermarket and a staff member became suspicious that she might be shoplifting.
The prosecutor said: ‘Other members of staff were alerted, including the deceased Alun Harris-Richards.’
Smith went to a self-service checkout area carrying a can of alcohol and bags, but then went towards the exit, triggering alarms.
Mr Harris-Richards and another staff member intercepted her and took hold of a reusable bag containing two bottles, but Smith would not let it go.
During the confrontation, Mr Harris-Richards’ breathing became laboured and he fell to the floor, the court heard.
Mr Stalker said: ‘He was immediately unresponsive. The deceased received first aid, CPR and emergency medical treatment from staff, customers and paramedics where he had fallen. These efforts were to no avail.’
Smith admitted to killing the 61-year-old at Edinburgh High Court (pictured)
Smith was originally accused of assaulting him and repeatedly pushing him on the body but the Crown amended the charge, removing the assault allegation, before she pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of Mr Harris-Richards.
A judge told Smith, formerly of North Grimsby, Arbroath, that the only possible punishment for her offending was ‘a significant custodial sentence’.
The hearing was adjourned for sentencing at a later date and Smith was remanded in prison.
