Frontline workers: Moment Jade Devey was abused over pasta

A supermarket worker has detailed how she was physically assaulted by a customer during the height of Brisbane’s coronavirus lockdowns because of pasta restrictions.

Jade Devey was just doing her job when an enraged customer abused her because he couldn’t buy four packets of pasta.

It happened during a supermarket shift in Brisbane, at the height of coronavirus lockdowns and grocery restrictions.

Ms Devey said she almost quit her job over the incident.

Retail worker Jade Devey was assaulted by a customer angry over pasta restrictions earlier this year. Picture: Richard Walker

The supermarket worker said on March 22, when product restrictions were heavily in-place, a customer was trying to exceed the two pasta per person limit.

She claims he abused her after she was unable to give him four packets of pasta.

“I told him I still couldn’t give it to him … then he slammed the pasta into my shoulder … yelling at me.”

Jade Devey (centre) with Dr Bhavik Damodar, Sandra Thomas, Kay Dekker and Dr Eve Jenkins from the Jindalee Care Medical Practice, who she has nominated for the Thanks A Million campaign. Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Devey said she went to Jindalee Care Medical Practice after the incident, as she was shaken. “(Jindalee Care Medical Practice staff) protected me the whole time.”

Ms Devey has nominated the centre and its staff in News Corp Australia’s Thanks a Million campaign to recognise frontline workers.

Nominate someone today at thanksamillion.net.au