Emily Williams bit a security guard and shouted ‘I have HIV’ before stealing four candles
16:23, 30 Sep 2025Updated 18:26, 30 Sep 2025
Emily Williams, of Stanley Street, aged 25(Image: Merseyside Police)
A mum bit a security guard and shouted “I have HIV” as she stole four candles from John Lewis. Emily Williams had already been banned from the Liverpool ONE store for persistent shoplifting when she struck again, this time responding with violence when challenged by staff.
She was left in tears today as she reached “the end of the line” and was sent to prison. A judge meanwhile remarked of her claims to the employee: “I appreciate that may not have been true, but she must have been terrified as a result.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Tuesday, that the security guard was on duty at John Lewis on June 5 this year when she spotted Williams, who had previously been handed an indefinite ban from the shop following earlier thefts. The 25-year-old defendant, of Stanley Street in Liverpool city centre, was then seen to place four scented candles, valued at a total of £240, into her bag before attempting to leave without paying.
David Watson, prosecuting, described how she was challenged by the worker as a result, but refused to hand the stolen goods back. This led to a “short tussle” between the two, during which the shoplifter “stated that she was going to get the security guard battered”.
Williams then “shouted that she had HIV” and bit the 30-year-old victim to the left hand, leaving her with bruising, before leaving. She was seen covering her face with her long red hair as the court was played CCTV footage of the incident, which showed the violent altercation occurring in a doorway as shocked shoppers watched on.
Police subsequently arrested her in the area of London Road on June 14. Williams appeared to be wiping away tears as a statement was read to the court on behalf of the security guard, who said: “Ms Williams is a prolific shoplifter who has regularly attended John Lewis and stolen goods.
“Ms Williams can enter the store multiple times in the same day and steal goods. Ms Williams has been challenged in the past and has become aggressive. We are instructed to no longer challenge Ms Williams. She is able to assault myself and my colleagues without remorse.”
Williams has a total of 18 prior convictions for 29 offences, including 14 for theft and three for assault. She previously failed to attend a previous plea and trial preparation before the court during the summer and has been remanded in custody at HMP Styal since mid August.
Stuart Mills, defending, told the court of her earlier absence: “Due to personal circumstances, she simply forgot the date. June is the anniversary of several family deaths. She also tells me that she lost somebody she knew at the YMCA, so she did not give the priority to this that it really ought to have been given.
“The reality is that her antecedent history does not assist at all. I can understand why your honour may consider that this may be the end of the line, but it may be the end of the line without going over the precipice.
“What I mean is that she has reached a point in her life now where custodial sentences are going to be the inevitable consequence of committing further offences, but she has a mindset where she wants to take advantage of any assistance that she can be given. Although she may have come to the end of the line, she has not yet come off the track completely.
“Your honour sees the difficult background that she has had. She says that she is anxious to maintain contact with her children and anxious to try and turn herself around.”
Williams admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, theft and breaching court bail. Wearing all black clothing in the dock, she again appeared tearful as she was jailed for nine months and banned from entering the John Lewis store for three years under a restraining order.
Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “You were described in the victim personal statement made by the victim of the assault, as a prolific shoplifter, who is well known to the staff at that store. That is an accurate summary of your criminal history.
“You have had a dreadful life. One can only have the utmost sympathy for all that you have had to deal with and the drug addiction that you are contending with.
“The reality is that, time and time again, you have been given the support of the Probation Service, and you have turned it down. The Probation Service are saying that they really do not think there is anything more that they can do with you, because you are not willing to cooperate with them.
“When you were challenged, you fought with her and then bit her, telling her that you had HIV. I appreciate that that may not have been true, but she must have been terrified as a result.
“I am pleased to see that, in the relatively short period you have spent in custody, you have made good use of your time. I hope you are motivated to continue to do so and that, when you are released, you will take the support offered to you. If you do not, you will keep coming back here and you will keep getting longer and longer sentences.”