Hamilton mum mystified after she is ordered to leave store

Nov 27 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

A MUM-of-three this week demanded an apology after she was asked to leave a Hamilton store.

Deborah Grainger was shopping in b&m bargains in Douglas Park Retail Park between 1pm and 2pm on November 15.

The 36-year-old single mum, of Whistleberry Crescent, Whitehill, had gone there to look for Christmas presents and other items.

She said: “The man who appeared to be the manager and a security guard came up to me and said ‘excuse me, I am going to have to ask you to leave the shop.’

“I asked what I had done and he said he didn’t have to give a reason.

“I said I had not stolen anything but he insisted that I go and I had to put my basket on the floor and leave.

“The shop was quite busy and people were looking at me as if I was a criminal.”

Mrs Grainger said she was told to contact police, who would explain why she had been told to leave.

She went to Hamilton Police Station that night but was given no reason for what had happened.

Mrs Grainger lives on benefits of £200 a week and looks after sons John (13), 12-year-old Jack and Joseph, who is 10.

She denied being a shoplifter and insisted she had no convictions for the offence.

She had, she said, over the past four years, occasionally worked as a volunteer at her son’s primary, St Paul’s, Hamilton, after being positively vetted under Disclosure Scotland rules.

“I have not a clue why I was put out,” she added. “It could be a case of mistaken identity but how many people have purply-blue (tinged) hair like I have.”

Darren Bagshaw, area manager for b&m bargains, agreed to examine Mrs Grainger’s complaint.

He had spoken to staff but none could recall the incident.

“We have CCTV going back to that day and I will look at it to see if she was in the store,” added Mr Bagshaw.

“All our stores can refuse entry to any person at any time and they don’t have to give a specific reason.

“All our stores do that sortof thing day in and dayout.

“We are not accusing (the people asked to leave) of theft but we just don’t want them shopping in our store.”