A YOUNG blind woman was reduced to tears by Feltham Tesco staff who refused to allow her guide dog to come into the store.
Jade Sharp, 21, was told to leave the supermarket in Hampton Road West several times by workers for bringing in her guide dog, Brodie.
After explaining to a female member of staff that Brodie was a guide dog, and showing her pass, she was initially allowed to proceed to walk around the aisles with her 12-year-old sister Kloe and the dog. But moments later a security guard approached the girls and again they were again challenged.
Jade said: "I had only been in the store for two minutes. It upset me and I wondered why they were doing that as Brodie clearly had a harness which said 'I'm a working guide dog.' I was a bit angry and annoyed because that has never happened in the year I have had him. I was thinking if I did not have that pass with me would they have kicked me out of the store.
"I am in disbelief they do not know the law. I've not been back but I will not let it knock my confidence as it's one of the routes we have learnt to walk."
Jade has learnt to do two routes independently; one to her grandmas nearby, and the other to Tesco, which took eight months to perfect.
Parents, Paul Sharp, 48, and mum Hazel, 39, of Towfield Road, were mortified a company as large as Tesco had untrained staff on its shop floor, and disgusted no-one apologised at the time.
Following the incident on July 5, 2013, Mrs Sharp wrote a letter to management, but only received an apologetic phone call just hours after the Chronicle got in touch on Tuesday (9).
Mrs Sharp said: "This is absolutely disgraceful my daughters returned home in tears. My husband and I were at a funeral and had to leave. We went straight to the store to get the manager's name and the staff involved, they were all very rude.
"No one apologised and we shall not be returning to your store until your staff have been fully trained. I am shocked that a company as large as Tesco is getting it so wrong. I am appalled that your staff are unaware of the legislation pertaining to guide dogs and their owners being allowed to enter stores."
A Tesco spokesperson said: "We’ve contacted Hazel and her daughter to apologise for this mistake. We do allow guide dogs in store, and have reminded colleagues at the store of that. We also offer customers with guide dogs help with their shopping, if they would like assistance."
