Rita Seymour, a 79-year-old great-grandmother from Hook, Hampshire, has been banned from every Sainsbury's and Argos store across the United Kingdom following a series of incidents at her local branch. She is now appealing the decision, arguing that the nearest alternative supermarket, Tesco, is a 20-minute walk from her home, compared to just five minutes for Sainsbury's.
Incident Leads to Lifetime Ban
During a visit earlier this month, Seymour reportedly had a disagreement with a staff member while trying to purchase a EuroMillions lottery ticket. She claims she had to ask four times before the employee responded. When the employee finally did, Seymour alleges the staff member accused her of being rude and called management, who claimed she had been insulting and 'pinching food'. Seymour 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."
The next day, when Seymour returned to the shop, she says she was turned away at the entrance and handed a letter informing her that she had been barred from all Sainsbury's and Argos outlets nationwide.
Seymour Denies Wrongdoing
Seymour, a mum-of-one, grandmother-of-four, and great-grandmother-of-two, categorically denies any prior incidents. She stated: "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." She visits the store weekly, spending between £80 and £100 on groceries. Her husband has a disability, adding to her reliance on the nearby shop.
Sainsbury's Response
A Sainsbury's spokesperson 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. 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 well-being of colleagues and customers always come first."
Legal Context of Supermarket Bans
Supermarkets are privately owned premises and have the right to refuse service and bar individuals for virtually any reason, provided it does not breach anti-discrimination laws regarding protected characteristics. Common grounds for bans include theft, shoplifting, abusive behaviour towards staff or customers, antisocial conduct, or property damage. Seymour's ban appears to be based on alleged abusive behaviour and incidents over time, though she disputes these claims.
