Jennifer Rocha, 35, bit off Stephen Jenkinson’s right thumb when she delivered him his pizza (Picture: Solent News/BBC)
A Deliveroo rider faces jail after biting off a man’s thumb while delivering his pizza.
The victim, Stephen Jenkinson, 36, had to have part of his big toe surgically sewn on to his missing right thumb because it was gnawed off by Jennifer Rocha, 35.
The pair had an argument over a code after Rocha delivered the £57 Pizza Express order to the wrong address in Aldershot, Hampshire, on December 14 2022.
When Mr Jenkinson went to collect his delivery from the wrong address, the argument broke out, and when he raised his hand Rocha bit his thumb off.
She eventually let go and Mr Jenkinson lifted his arm and ‘sprayed her with blood’.
Rocha was due to face trial for grievous bodily harm with intent at Winchester Crown Court but has now admitted grievous bodily harm without intent.
Mr Jenkinson has been left permanently disabled by the attack and had to have an 11 hour operation, prosecutor Rebecca Austin said.
She told the court: ‘The impact on the victim has been devastating.
Jennifer Rocha pictured outside Winchester Crown Court (Picture: Andrew Croft/Solent News)
Stephen Jenkinson has been left unable to work following the attack (Picture: Andrew Croft/Solent News)
Mr Jenkinson’s hand following the attack (Picture: BBC News)
‘He has been left with a permanent disability and a part of his toe being removed.
‘It has had a physical and psychological impact and continues to this day.’
Recalling the incident, Mr Jenkinson said: ‘All I remember, I was shaking her helmet trying to get her off.
‘The force with which she must have been biting, she’d clean taken it off.’
He said it was as if he had ‘gone through a chainsaw’.
Mr Jenkinson has had to relearn basic skills like doing up buttons and tying up shoelaces.
He is also a plumber by trade and has been left unable to work.
He added: ‘Financially, I’m ruined. I’m unemployed. I’m in a massive amount of debt and I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.’
His relationship with the mum of his newborn daughter has also broken down.
Judge Timothy Mousley KC told Rocha it was a ‘serious offence which may well result in you being sent to prison’.
Rocha will be sentenced at a later date.
Deliveroo said in a statement: ‘This was an awful incident. We ended the account of the rider concerned immediately and have fully cooperated with the police on the investigation.’
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