An Asda shoplifter has been jailed for five years after she killed an ex-Royal Marine security guard following a tussle over stolen alcohol.

Alun Harris-Richards, 61, fell to the ground, struck his head and died after he suffered a heart attack while trying to stop Natasha Smith from stealing from a Scottish supermarket.

The incident at an Asda in Angus was captured on Mr Harris-Richards’ body cam. 

In the footage Mr Harris-Richards and Smith can be seen grappling with a bag full of stolen booze.

‘You’re not allowed to touch me. Get your f***ing hands off me’, Smith shouted

She screamed ‘Who do you think you are, f***ing Hulk?’ while wrestling over the alcohol.

The frenzied incident caused the ex-Royal Marine, who had an undiagnosed heart disease, to suffer a fatal heart attack.

He was given CPR by paramedics and staff at the store but he tragically died at the scene on June 30 2024. 

Today, Smith was sentenced to five years and four months behind bars after she pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and to the assault of another Asda employee. 

The incident at an Asda in Angus was captured on Alun Harris-Richards’ body cam. In the footage Mr Harris-Richards and Natasha Smith can be seen grappling with a bag full of stolen booze

Natasha Smith (pictured) has been sentenced to over five years behind bars after she pleaded guilty to killing Mr Harris-Richards 

During the sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Haldane told Smith: ‘On June 30 2024 you set in train a series of events that ultimately had devastating consequences for Alun Harris-Richards, his family and all who knew and loved him.

‘Mr Harris-Richards lost his life that day when he was simply doing his job at a supermarket.

‘It is accepted you did not intend this outcome, nevertheless it is accepted that you have to bear responsibility for it.’

She described victim impact statements from those close to Mr Harris-Richards as ‘moving documents’ and said ‘it’s clear that Mr Harris-Richards was a much-loved member of the family’, and that his loss has affected them ‘profoundly’.

The judge added: ‘It is fair to say that Mr Harris-Richards suffered from health issues that did make him more susceptible to a stressful event such as this, but that does not take away from the fact that he would not have lost his life in the way that he did without your actions.’

The court heard that Smith, who appeared via videolink from prison, has a number of previous convictions for drug offences.

Kris Gilmartin, representing Smith, said she feels ‘deep remorse’ for her actions.

He said: ‘She accepts that her actions on June 30 2024 have left the friends and family of Mr Harris-Richards with a hole that cannot be filled and she is filled with regret.’

Alun Harris-Richards (pictured), 61, fell to the ground, struck his head and died after he suffered a heart attack while trying to stop Natasha Smith from stealing from a Scottish supermarket

Smith screamed ‘ Who do you think you are , f***ing Hulk?’ while wrestling with Mr Harris-Smith over the stolen alcohol

Mr Gilmartin said that Smith was addicted to alcohol at the time of the incident and had gone to the store ‘desperate’.

He told the court: ‘She was seen hiding alcohol in her bag. She was desperate to keep hold of her bag and its contents.

‘She did not place hands on Mr Harris-Richards but accepts she tried to pull the bag away from him.’

He added: ‘She did not intend to cause him harm but she has to live with the fact that her actions caused his death.’

Mr Gilmartin told the court that Smith endured significant trauma during her childhood and was exposed to drugs from an early age.

He said that she was in the throes of drug and alcohol abuse at the time of the incident.

Moira Orr, who leads on homicide for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: ‘This was an unprovoked attack on a man who was simply doing his job.

‘Natasha Smith’s actions resulted in tragic consequences and robbed a much-loved family man of his life.

‘She will now serve a prison sentence for her crime.

‘This conviction serves as a warning to others that we take crimes of this nature extremely seriously and will use all the tools available to us to seek justice.

‘Our thoughts lie with Mr Harris-Richards’ family and friends. We are sorry for their loss.’