Aldi stabbing: Police charge 44-year-old man with murder after supermarket worker Jodie Willsher stabbed to death

Neville John Hord is accused of killing the supermarket worker described as a ‘doting mother and loving wife’

A 44-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of a 30-year-old woman in the Aldi store where she worked. Jodie Willsher, described as a “lovely” mum, died as a result of the injuries she suffered when she was stabbed in the store in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

Neville John Hord, 44, will appear before magistrates in York tomorrow, charged with her murder. North Yorkshire Police said: “The suspect was initially detained by brave members of staff and shoppers. He was then arrested by officers who were quickly on scene.”

Police paid tribute to members of the public who prevented the suspect from escaping after the attack by pinning him to the ground. “The suspect was initially detained by brave members of staff and shoppers. He was then arrested by officers who were quickly on the scene.”

The arrest came after Ms Willsher’s husband Malcolm paid a moving tribute to his wife.

Town of Skipton said to be grieving over the loss of Willsher, who was well-liked in the community (Facebook)

“She was lovely and warm and always had a smile on her face. She was amazing, beautiful and a lovely person. She was a doting mother and a loving wife.”

Colin Breslin, regional managing director at Aldi, said she was a “much loved and popular colleague”, adding that all her co-workers are deeply shocked and saddened by her death.

Matthew Barnes, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Everyone at Aldi is heartbroken by this devastating news. Our deepest sympathy goes to Jodie’s family, friends and colleagues.

”We are doing everything we can to support our people and all those affected during this difficult time.”

The supermarket remained shut as investigators worked on Friday, with police officers, plain-clothed detectives and forensics specialists entering the building.

Half-filled shopping trolleys and items left at check-outs could be seen abandoned after the attack unfolded on Thursday afternoon.

Well-wishers, including some people in tears, left flowers at a police cordon with one card reading: “To our dear beautiful sweet friend. We are all broken. Sorry we never got our girls’ night, here a glass to you.”

Another said: ”Jodie, no words can explain how much you are going to be missed. You were truly one in a million.”

Kelly Blagden, a former school friend of Ms Willsher, said she had worked at Aldi since it opened two years ago. ”She’s a lovely girl, she was so in love [with her husband],” she added. “They were just the perfect relationship, they were so in love with each other and I just can’t believe it really.”

Mr Willsher changed his Facebook photo to a smiling picture with his wife and another showing Ms Willsher with their four-year-old daughter.

Writing on Facebook, her cousin Chris Swales paid tribute to the “fun loving, caring person”. “How can life be so cruel, a selfless act by one person has left a husband without a wife and a little girl without her mother?” he added.

”You weren’t just my cousin Jodie, you were like the sister I never had and now I’m broken you’ve gone. Be the brightest star in the sky and sleep tight.”

Andy Rankine, the mayor of Skipton, said the whole town was “in shock and grieving over the loss of Jodie”. He added: “Skipton is a small but close-knit community where most people know each other.

“We are in shock about the sad events of yesterday where a store worker was murdered whilst going about her duties. Christmas this year will an ordeal for many residents.”

A former school friend of Ms Willsher, who did not want to be named, lay down flowers describing the victim as an “absolutely lovely person”. “I don’t know anyone who had a grudge against her, she seemed, lovely, such a nice person,” he said.

”There’s probably 20,000 people in Skipton and around 5,000 will know her, through school and working at the shop, it’s that kind of small town. There’s so many people she knew, so many people affected by it. It’s shocking, an absolutely lovely person, never do any harm to nobody.”

North Yorkshire Police said the incident was not terror-related or believed to be a hate crime.