Ronald Ridge sentenced for brazen daylight assault at Glenelg IGA

A supermarket manager has been assaulted after confronting a man trying to steal a number of items from the store.

A man has been jailed after assaulting the manager of a Glenelg supermarket during an attempt to steal items from the store.

Members of the public in one of Adelaide’s most affluent suburbs witness the manager of a supermarket assaulted after confronting a man for stealing.

Ronald Ridge, 29, pleaded guilty to a number of charges including assaulting a worker and dishonestly taking property.

The court heard on July 2, a staff member of Glenelg East IGA observed Ridge taking items off the shelf and attempting to conceal them in his clothes.

IGA at Glenelg East where Ronald Ridge assaulted a worker. Picture: Google

That same staff member alerted the manager who approached Ridge after also observing him attempting to steal the items.

“The defendant attempted to headbutt the victim but it didn’t connect,” said the police prosecutor.

A member of the public stepped in to try to assist the victim as they removed Ridge from the shop.

“It was when they were outside of the shop, the victim states he was punched in the face four or five times to the head,” said the police prosecutor.

“All the things taken from the shelves had dropped on the floor and recovered.”

Ridge was also charged with stealing some cans of alcohol in Hindmarsh back on February 27.

When questioned by police, Ridge declined to answer any questions.

Wayne Carlin, defence counsel for Ridge, told the court his client had been battling homelessness at the time of the offending and had also been in grips of an ongoing drug problem.

“He needed food and took the opportunity to take those items,” Mr Carlin said.

In her sentencing, Magistrate Natalie Browne sentenced Ridge to 21 days imprisonment for the assault, but a total of one month and 11 days including his other matters.

The time was backdated to July 29, 2023.