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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is fucking dreadful

105 replies

suchgreatheights2 · 06/04/2026 22:31

Seen a story on various ‘news’ outlets today about a woman apparently being hunted for by police for defecating on a shelf in The Range and leaving. I’m not linking the article because I think it’s terrible but there is a clear photo of the woman in question.

Hundreds of horrible and jokey comments. No empathy or consideration that this could have been someone with any number of cognitive issues and/or digestive disease. Now their photo is plastered all over social media. How humiliating for them and the family. Is this what we have become as a society? Does this actually pass for news and would police resources not be better spent elsewhere? Honestly I find it cruel, grim and shocking.

OP posts:
MermaidofRye · 07/04/2026 17:48

suchgreatheights2 · 07/04/2026 15:27

I agree. I’m not excusing it and I feel for the staff who had to deal with it, it’s very obviously not ok.

My point was that unless there is something else going on (prolific shit smearer, concerns about safety - either of which I feel might have been mentioned in the article) it’s just not a very nice thing to have publicised in national press. And a ridiculous waste of police resources.

Apparently questioning the ethics of humiliating someone in this way makes me ridiculous and a virtue signaller. I’m not really bothered, it’s nicer being nice.

Would you like to work in a shop and clean shit from the shelves?

If this woman gets away with it, as sure as night follows day, others will think it is ok because that's the way things go-you know like shoplifting. Once upon a time, there was not an epidemic of shoplifting but the more it is ignored, the more it emboldens others to give it a go.

Frankly, if you can't go out and about without having to squat down in a public shelf and shit and then leave it steaming there, then you are a menace and should stay at home.

My right-and the right of the public and staff-to not have to encounter this is worth much more than the right of the shitter. And long may may that be the case!

How do you like those onions!

ChamonixMountainBum · 07/04/2026 17:03

H3342 · 07/04/2026 16:32

I need to know more about this @Clefable !!

How did they find out who it was? Did she admit it? Was she fired? Did she show any embarrassment??!

Hercule Pooirot solved the case.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 07/04/2026 16:56

She wasn’t embarrassed to shit on a shelf in public, I doubt she’ll be embarrassed about the furore she’s caused.

AgnesX · 07/04/2026 16:47

It's not news. It is appalling though. Her demeanor doesn't look as if she's distressed. If she was then surely she would have asked to used the facilities or left in a hurry. As a result it seems to be all about shame the woman.

People's behaviour seems to have gone right through the floor lately and being on CCTV doesn't bother them.

bringincrazyback · 07/04/2026 16:41

Overcookedch · 06/04/2026 23:35

If you can’t stop yourself from pooing on a shelf then arguably you shouldn’t be free to roam around the streets. There’s no excuse for that behaviour what so ever and as I say if you’re THAT cognitively impaired then you should have a full time carer.

Ah yes, of course. Because the switch from 'able to function' to 'has/needs full time carer' happens overnight for cognitively impaired people. 🙄

Seriously, get a clue and get some compassion while you're at it. Of course this is gross and should never happen, but the sheer grossness of it should serve as some kind of pointer that this is a vulnerable person in need of care that she isn't getting. No one willingly and lucidly does something like this.

H3342 · 07/04/2026 16:32

Clefable · 06/04/2026 22:57

You never can tell. We had a phantom shit smearer at work years ago and it turned out to be one of the women who was in a sort of middle management role, always well turned out, etc. It was really bizarre.

I need to know more about this @Clefable !!

How did they find out who it was? Did she admit it? Was she fired? Did she show any embarrassment??!

Vinvertebrate · 07/04/2026 16:15

YABU on a number of levels.

I used to work at a law firm where an unknown fee earner would regularly do a dirty protest in the ladies. I wouldn’t assume it’s any kind of disability or deficiency - some people are just weird/gross/cunts.

Back in the early 00’s there was a footie match in Manchester between a local team and a Scottish team. One of the visiting fans curled one out on the platform at Piccadilly in front of me. The only notable thing about her was the vast quantity of alcohol she’d consumed. The police did the same, ie circulated her picture taking a shit, and I hope they caught the skank.

Disability or not, and I have a disabled son, shitting in public really needs not to happen under any circumstances. More power to anyone with the horrible job of trying to catch the culprits.

ChamonixMountainBum · 07/04/2026 16:12

TheSnappyHelper · 07/04/2026 16:08

I've got a lot of empathy for the poor staff that have to deal with this kind of behaviour. You can bet they don't get paid enough.

Pop it on the shelf with the Rustler burgers, nobody will be able to tell the difference.

ChamonixMountainBum · 07/04/2026 16:11

RightOnTheEdge · 06/04/2026 23:15

Older, well dressed people can be antisocial and vile OP.
Are you trying to suggest that shitting on shelves is how poor, badly dressed people behave?

I watched a video yesterday where an older woman who was well spoken and well dressed put her hand in the tip jar in a cafe and stole the money. Then pretended she couldn't understand the waitress because she had a foreign accent when she confronted her. She totally denied it even though it was as clear as day on camera.

If I was the person who had to pick up this mucky woman's poo I'd want her named and shamed as well. It's disgusting.

Years ago when I was a student i had a job working in the now defunct Victoria Wine off license. By far the biggest culprits of shoplifting were well dressed well spoken middle class women who just assumed nobody would suspect them.

TheSnappyHelper · 07/04/2026 16:08

I've got a lot of empathy for the poor staff that have to deal with this kind of behaviour. You can bet they don't get paid enough.

IWaffleAlot · 07/04/2026 16:08

Being nice ffs. That’s why these dirty filthy people get away with things like this. Because whatabouttery and be kind

IWaffleAlot · 07/04/2026 16:06

Who cares what her issues are?? Are you seriously saying that she needs sympathy and understanding for doing something utterly disgusting. I hope it’s you who happens to put your hand there looking for something op, since you are so wonderful and caring. Disgusting woman, she deserves to be publicly shamed.🤢

Ablondiebutagoody · 07/04/2026 16:04

I have digestive issues so can confirm that the Range usually has toilets. Even if it didn't, I'm not going to curl one out on a shelf.

To me, this sounds like a dirty protest, which I can completely understand.

WhatNoRaisins · 07/04/2026 16:03

If you're so uninhibited you'll take a shit on a shelf would you even have the capacity to feel humiliation?

Wingedharpy · 07/04/2026 16:00

deserthighway · 07/04/2026 15:50

Yes that was my thought exactly. It must have been deliberately placed or she would have been rumbled immediately.

Like another poster said, Manky Bitch! Thats deliberate. They probably wouldn't give her a refund or something some time.

Plus, it's very often people that age who do those sorts of things. They've got a lot of spare time on their hands.

Well, with this sort of shenanigans, 'twill be more than time on their hands!

I' m probably similar age/generation to the woman in question @deserthighway and, as yet, have never felt an overwhelming urge to participate in inappropriate turd depositing.

Friendlygingercat · 07/04/2026 15:54

When I ran a public library (back in the 1980s) a man once peed in a corner behind the shelves. Another one passed out on a bench and would not move at closing time. We had to call the police to remove him. Its amazing what goes on in public buildings.

deserthighway · 07/04/2026 15:50

Wingedharpy · 07/04/2026 15:46

I suspect the turd in question was in her handbag, ready for placement, as she went in, otherwise, the minute she started to drop her knickers, someone would have been raising the alarm, surely.

Yes that was my thought exactly. It must have been deliberately placed or she would have been rumbled immediately.

Like another poster said, Manky Bitch! Thats deliberate. They probably wouldn't give her a refund or something some time.

Plus, it's very often people that age who do those sorts of things. They've got a lot of spare time on their hands.

Wingedharpy · 07/04/2026 15:46

LVhandbagsatdawn · 07/04/2026 08:47

Do you really think, based on what you've read, that this is just some poor innocent old lady who got confused and had a crisis?

I'd bet my bottom dollar this is either targeted against the store or one of its staff, or it's part of a wider pattern of behaviour.

I suspect the turd in question was in her handbag, ready for placement, as she went in, otherwise, the minute she started to drop her knickers, someone would have been raising the alarm, surely.

MyLimeGuide · 07/04/2026 15:32

rwalker · 07/04/2026 07:17

Not seeing the problem

What of taking a dump on a shelf in the range?! 😂

suchgreatheights2 · 07/04/2026 15:27

WhatNoRaisins · 07/04/2026 09:34

There's being kind but there's also things that no one should have to tolerate and that includes shit on a shop shelf. Yuck.

I agree. I’m not excusing it and I feel for the staff who had to deal with it, it’s very obviously not ok.

My point was that unless there is something else going on (prolific shit smearer, concerns about safety - either of which I feel might have been mentioned in the article) it’s just not a very nice thing to have publicised in national press. And a ridiculous waste of police resources.

Apparently questioning the ethics of humiliating someone in this way makes me ridiculous and a virtue signaller. I’m not really bothered, it’s nicer being nice.

OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 07/04/2026 09:34

There's being kind but there's also things that no one should have to tolerate and that includes shit on a shop shelf. Yuck.

MrThorpeHazell · 07/04/2026 09:31

"No empathy or consideration that this could have been someone with any number of cognitive issues and/or digestive disease."

Or, she could simply be a loathsome individual but until she is found, we won't know.

BTW I suffer from Crohn's Disease but I have never felt the need to do anything like this.

YABU to the point of being ridiculous.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 07/04/2026 09:26

FiveMetresUp · 07/04/2026 09:01

We had someone in our department at work who would regularly shit on the floor in the female toilets. They were all educated, successful women. Why would someone do that? It was so odd.

Same in my old work place - a publishing house. Someone would also regularly break all the toilet seats in the Ladies - no idea why or even how.

Valeriekat · 07/04/2026 09:22

It is gross! Who do you suppose had to clean it up?

Duvetdayneeded · 07/04/2026 09:22

Excuse the pun, but are you shitting me? Of course she should be charged by the police or something as it is disgusting and dirty. It’s completely unacceptable on every single level.