Aldershot: Deliveroo driver who bit his thumb given suspended sentence

A food delivery man who bit off a customer’s thumb has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Jeniffer Rocha, 35, attacked Stephen Jenkinson during an argument over a Deliveroo pizza order in Aldershot, Hampshire, in December 2022.

She had earlier pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

Rocha was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court to 16 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Warning: This story contains graphic images and details that some readers may find disturbing.

Mr Jenkinson’s partner ordered a pizza via a food delivery app on December 14, 2022.

However, prosecutors said Rocha arrived at the wrong location because it was located on the street across from the client’s home.

When he went to get food, he forgot his phone and a brief argument ensued over the delivery code he needed to provide.

Mr Jenkinson said he was bitten as if he had been “gone through a chainsaw”.

“I just remember shaking her helmet, trying to get it off,” the 36-year-old plumber told the BBC.

“The force she had to bite with would have been enough to cause it to bite off.”

John Hepworth, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Mr Jenkinson suffered life-changing injuries and their impact cannot be underestimated.

“This attack changed his life permanently.

“Jennifer Rocha’s assault far exceeded any reasonable measure and her conduct was completely unacceptable.”

In April, BBC News filmed Rocha continuing to deliver food despite Deliveroo taking action against her.

The company said it had earlier in December canceled the account the woman was using and then closed the second account.

Rocha worked as a so-called substitute passenger, using someone else’s account.

The three biggest delivery apps – Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats – announced in April that they would tighten their identity checks on “proxy” delivery drivers.

A Deliveroo spokesman said: “This was a truly awful incident. We have co-operated fully with the police investigation and our thoughts are with Mr Jenkinson.”