Shopper filmed himself licking fingers and wiping them on napkins in Lidl

Benjamin Best visited the Bridport supermarket wearing gloves and a mask while shopping for his family.

The 20-year-old, of St Andrews Road, Bridport, stuck two fingers in his mouth and rubbed them on the wrapped napkins, magistrates heard.

Best filmed incident on April 3 and shared the video onto Snapchat, which was later reported to police by a concerned viewer.

He was arrested and charged with contaminating or interfering with goods with intent and pleaded guilty to the offence on September 2. Magistrates called for a pre-sentence report and Best was sentenced on Thursday (October 7).

Prosecuting, Charles Nightingale, told Weymouth Magistrates’ Court that Best committed the offence during the early weeks of the coronavirus lockdown where there were strict hygiene measures in place and hand sanitisers at entry points.

The shopper filmed himself licking his fingers and wiping them onto a packet of napkins at Lidl in Bridport. Image: Crown Prosecution Service

He said: “He was wearing a mask and gloves and licked two fingers in his mouth and then preceded to swipe those fingers across paper napkins on the shelf. He filmed himself doing it. He uploaded the small recording to Snapchat and it was seen by 60 people. It came to the attention of the police and the recording was seized.

“He thought it was a joke. He thought his friends would find it funny. But it wasn’t. Some people who saw it reported it to the police.”

Mr Nightingale added Best claimed he purchased the packet of napkins but he had not produced a receipt to prove this.

He added: “It was a prank but realises it was an utterly stupid action and that it was done without thought.”

Mitigating, Ian Brazier, agreed Best’s actions were ‘stupid’ but the defendant has had ‘a long time to reflect’ on his actions.

He explained Best did a lot of shopping for family members during the lockdown period, which explains why he was at Lidl on St Andrews Road and not just ‘goofing around’.

He said: “I think that this was done at the spur of the moment for a laugh. He has had quite a lot of time to reflect upon it. He has been helping out at home, looking for work and worked at a carpet fitting company, something that he tried out and liked.”

Mr Brazier said Best had apologised to his grandparents ‘in length’ about what he did and ‘expressed remorse profoundly’.

Lidl in Bridport. Picture: Google

In a letter written by one of his grandparents, Best was described as a ‘kind, considerate’ grandson who had been constantly trying to find a new job.

They added he is a ‘cheerful hard working’ man who saw the consequences of his actions.

Chairman of the bench, Mrs Debbie Boitoult, condemned his actions during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, but acknowledged he had expressed ‘clear remorse for stupid actions.’

She said: “This was a very serious incident. Given the rules, you committed this offence at the time of extreme stress and fear. You thought it would be funny to make the video.

“It was clear that people weren’t laughing, hence why you are in court.”

Magistrates gave Best a 18-month community order and ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for up to 15 days.

He was also ordered to pay £90 victim surcharge and costs of £85.