A carer felt humiliated after being told to leave an Asda as the staff didn't like the way he shopped.
Matthew Scholes said he visited Asda to do his his weekly shop after finishing a 12 hour night shift at a care home on March 5 - but was then followed around the store by a staff member with a clipboard. The 49-year-old, who worked through the pandemic, said when he got to the alcohol aisle a female worker told him "we have seen you in here before" and "I want you to leave the store right now".
TeesideLive reported how Mr Scholes tried to explain he had done nothing wrong but the staff member kept repeating herself until he felt he had no choice but to put down his basket and leave the shop.
READ MORE: Martin Lewis apologises for advice as energy companies backtrack
An email sent to him by Asda Executive Relations said: "I have spoken to the store leadership team who have informed me they do not like the way you shop. I appreciate this may not be the response you were looking for and I am sorry for any disappointment this may cause."
The supermarket said their colleagues can ask shoppers to leave if they suspect them of "suspicious shopping behaviour". Mr Scholes, who lives in Thornaby, said: "I feel discriminated against and humiliated. I picked up a bottle of Ouzo and, at that point with a bottle in my hand, the woman said 'can I have a word? I want you to leave the shop right now'.
"I said 'what's going on I haven't done nothing wrong, I haven't stolen anything'. She was repeating herself over and over again like a parrot. The only other thing she said was 'we have seen you in here before'.
"I was just so stunned. After the fifth time she said leave the store I had no choice but to put my basket down and leave the store.
"The email said they have had a word with the team and they don't like the way I shop and that's it. It's ridiculous, there's no explanation. I have not done anything differently, I have just shopped the way I have always shopped."
Mr Scholes said he was "baffled" by the actions of the staff and the company. He added the incident has had a negative impact on his work and has left him constantly checking to see if anyone is looking at him when he visits other supermarkets.
He added: "I wasn't acting suspicious, it just makes no sense. If they saw something in my manner and the way I do my shopping, I was completely oblivious to it. I made a point of saying 'I was a key worker during the pandemic'. I thought that may show my character but obviously it didn't do any good.
"I'm a full time worker, I have got no reason to steal. I have always paid for my goods. I have tried to get the message across that I'm a genuine person and I have never had problems shopping before.
"It's disgusting, it's a bad case of mistaken identity. I'm shocked about the whole thing. I'm glad I'm not going in there anymore if they are going to treat people like that."
A spokesperson for Asda said: "Whilst asking a customer to leave is always a last resort, if our colleagues suspect any customers of suspicious shopping behaviour then they can ask them to leave the store." TeesideLive asked the company if they had contacted the police but the store did not comment.
