Tony Daniels, a 73-year-old disabled grandfather from Mossley Hill, Liverpool, has accused Asda of discrimination after he was allegedly asked to leave the supermarket in Widnes town centre following a dispute over a mobility scooter. The retired builder, who uses two walking sticks due to multiple health issues including cancer, said the incident on June 18, 2025, left him feeling humiliated and distressed.
Incident Details
According to Daniels, he requested a mobility scooter trolley at the Asda on Widnes Road but was told by a security guard that he needed to provide his name and address first. Daniels refused, citing that he is never asked for such details at his local Asda branch on Smithdown Road in Liverpool. He then asked to speak with a 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.” He described the experience as “horrible” and emphasised that he was not a threat to anyone.
Impact on Daniels
Daniels, a father of four and grandfather of nine, said the incident has knocked him back significantly. “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. He contrasted the treatment with his positive experiences at the Smithdown Road Asda, where staff are helpful and allow him to use a buggy without any issues.
Asda's Response
An Asda spokesperson confirmed that it is company policy to request certain details from any customer wishing to use a mobility scooter in store. “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,” the spokesperson said. “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.”
Asda has since written to Daniels to explain the policy and expressed willingness to speak with him directly if he has further questions. Daniels, however, maintains that the policy was applied inconsistently and that he was treated unfairly.
