Asda says '˜sorry' to Larne man wrongly accused of theft

Asda has issued an apology to a Larne man who was wrongly accused of stealing groceries from the supermarket in Larne.
Neil Brownlee.  INLT 20-653-CONNeil Brownlee.  INLT 20-653-CON
Neil Brownlee. INLT 20-653-CON

Neil Brownlee was charged with theft following an incident at the Redlands Road store last year.

The 49-year-old explained: “I was doing some shopping and on this occasion I used one of the self-service tills, which I don’t normally use.

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“I had some trouble getting the card payment to go through, but after the fourth attempt I thought it had been successful, so I left with my groceries.”

Mr Brownlee was shocked to get a phone call from police a week later, saying he was being investigated for making off without paying.

“I told police it must have been a genuine mistake and offered to reimburse Asda,” he added.

“But I was later informed that it had been upgraded to theft, which was just ludicrous.”

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Mr Brownlee was arrested and later charged with theft of groceries totalling £43.

And while the case against him was eventually dismissed, following a contest at Ballymena Magistrates Court, he said the experience has had a profound impact on his life.

“My family and I have suffered a lot of stress through this preposterous allegation,” he told the Times.

“The whole ordeal of having to go through the courts to clear my name has upset me greatly. I have no criminal record for anything and it was an honest mistake.

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“Is it Asda’s policy to criminalise honest loyal customers who spend over £300 per week in their store?

“I was Asda’s unofficial first customer when it first opened here in Larne, and even now, after all that has happened, I still shop there regularly.”

The Cymric Drive man is now urging shoppers to be cautious when using self-service tills.

“I am not the first person this has happened to. I know other people who have done the same thing and went back to the store later to fix the problem,” Mr Brownlee added.

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“I only wish this could have been resolved a long time ago, without the need for courtroom drama,”

A spokesperson from Asda told the Times: “We’re sorry for any distress caused to Mr Brownlee and his family.”

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