Store ban for gran over 30p crisps (From Stroud News and Journal)

Store ban for gran over 30p crisps

A GRANDMOTHER was banned for life from a Stonehouse supermarket and told she would face hefty legal bills after she forgot to pay for a 30p packet of crisps for her two-year-old grandson.

Christine Stephens, 47, had given the snack to grandson Logan to keep him quiet while she shopped at the Co-op on Friday.

But she bumped into an old friend she hadn't seen for years and got chatting. Mrs Stephens then absent-mindedly walked out of the store without paying for the Quavers.

A store detective collared her outside but despite her explanation and immediate offer to pay he told her she would have to find a solicitor and should expect a hefty legal bill.

A distraught Mrs Stephens said on Friday: "I cannot understand why they did this." "I told them it was an honest mistake but they just did not want to know." Her husband, Idris, 52 was called out of work to calm her down after the incident.

"She is in a terrible state, she just can't stop crying," he told the SNJ soon after the incident.

Mr Stephens stormed down to the store to demand they revoke the ban but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

"It absolutely stinks," he fumed. "If she had stuck a toaster in the pushchair, covered it up and walked out with it then I could understand but it is just a packet of crisps. I am disgusted."

Mrs Stephens explained: "I met a friend I had not seen for years and we got chatting. I went away still thinking about what we were talking about and genuinely forgot about the crisps."

After several telephone calls to the Co-op by other members of her family, Mrs Stephens was told an apology was indeed in order .....from her husband to the store detective.

"They said my husband should apologise for swearing," she said. "But who could blame him. He was so angry and concerned for me."

However, on Monday, Co-op spokesman Adrian Barradell said the store had reviewed the case and decided not to progress any further.

"At the time we followed standard procedure," he said. "We have contacted the family and let them know there will be no further action against Mrs Stephens. She is welcome to return to the store."

But Mrs Stephens said she was still too upset to consider shopping at the store again. "I have been crying most of the weekend and have hardly slept over this. If it had been a weaker person than me this could have had serious consequences. "I really don't feel like setting foot in that shop again."