Tony Daniels, a 73-year-old disabled grandfather from Mossley Hill, Liverpool, claims he was “kicked out” of an Asda store in Widnes on June 18, 2025, after a dispute over the use of a mobility scooter. Daniels, who uses two walking sticks and has multiple health issues including cancer, said he “couldn’t believe” the incident, which saw him escorted from the supermarket by security staff.
What Happened at Asda Widnes
According to Daniels, he asked to use a mobility trolley but was told by a security guard that he needed to provide his name and address first. Daniels refused and requested to speak with a store manager. “He went on his walkie-talkie, and the next minute, I was surrounded by three to four security guards,” Daniels told the Liverpool ECHO. “I am disabled and on two sticks, I have a lot of health issues, and cancer is the latest one I've got.”
When the manager arrived, Daniels said her first words were: “I don't like your attitude, and I'm going to tell you to leave. We want you to leave now.” Daniels described the experience as “horrible,” emphasizing that he was not a threat to anyone. “It wasn't so much that I couldn't get the buggy to do my shopping, but the way I was treated. I'm disabled, I wasn't a threat to anybody,” he added.
Comparison with Other Asda Stores
Daniels, a retired builder and grandfather of nine, said he regularly shops at the Asda on Smithdown Road in Liverpool without any issues. “I use the Asda store on Smithdown Road in Liverpool, and it has never been a problem whatsoever. They’re great with me. I just ask for a buggy, and they say, 'No problem.' They help me with my packing and shopping,” he explained. The incident in Widnes, however, has left him distressed. “The incident has knocked me back a lot, and I still get upset about it. I'm 73, on two walking sticks, I can barely breathe, and I thought I was going to have a hypo in the store,” he said.
Asda's Response
An Asda spokesperson confirmed that it is company policy to request basic details from customers using mobility scooters. “To ensure colleague and customer safety, we politely ask anyone using a mobility scooter in store to provide a few details and, where needed, use one of our in-store scooters. This is standard across all our stores and is something we ask of all customers using a mobility scooter, always with the best intentions and with the safety of all customers in mind,” the spokesperson said. Asda added that it has written to Mr. Daniels to explain the policy and remains open to speaking with him directly if he has further questions.
