Great-gran banned from each Sainsbury’s in Britain after row over Euromillions ticket
Rita Seymour, 79, has been hit with a Sainsbury’s ban across Britain after a ‘number of incidents over time’ at her local store in Hook, Hampshire, but the great-gran says she wants to clear her name
Rita wants the ban lifted
A great-grandmother who’s been barred from every Sainsbury’s in the UK after a row over a lottery ticket has begged to be let back in. Rita Seymour was told she was banned by the retail giant following a “number of incidents over time” at her local branch in Hook, Hampshire.
However, the 79-year-old insists she’s “not that sort of person” and wants the ban lifted. She points out that the Sainsbury’s is a mere five-minute stroll from her home – in contrast to a 20-minute trek to Tesco.
The great-grandmother said: “I’m not interested in money, but I live five minutes away from the shop and I would like this ban lifted.”
The pensioner, who has lived in Hook since 1981, visited the nearby store once a week for her shopping. It was during a trip earlier this month that Rita, who worked in customer services, had a disagreement with an employee while attempting to purchase a Euromillions ticket.
Rita claims she had to request a lottery ticket four times before receiving a response from the staff member. When she finally responded, Rita alleges the worker accused her of being rude and summoned management.
Rita said: “She went to take a picture of me, and I pushed her camera out of her face. I said ‘I’ve done nothing wrong here, you’re not taking pictures of me’.
“She was flinging her arms about.”
When Rita returned to the shop the following day, she was prevented from entering and handed a letter informing her that she’d been barred from Sainsbury’s and Argos outlets nationwide.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We want everyone to feel welcome when they shop with us and our colleagues work hard to create a positive in store experience.
“We take any form of abusive and inappropriate behaviour seriously, and following a number of incidents over time, a decision was taken to withdraw this individual’s right to shop at our Hook store.
“This action was not taken lightly, but the safety and wellbeing of colleagues and customers always come first.”
Rita, who lives with her disabled husband denied claims there had been any prior incidents.
She said: “I’m not that sort of person, I never cause trouble, I never do any trouble – they’re saying it to get out of everything.
“I want to clear my name.”
