Tony Daniels, a 73-year-old disabled grandfather from Mossley Hill, claims he was ejected from Asda in Widnes town centre following a dispute over using a mobility scooter. The retired builder, who relies on two walking sticks due to multiple health issues including cancer, said he was “surrounded” by security guards and told to leave after refusing to provide his name and address to use the scooter.
Incident at Asda Widnes
On June 18, 2025, Mr. Daniels visited the Asda store on Widnes Road and requested a mobility scooter trolley. He said a security guard informed him he needed to give his details, which he refused, asking to speak to a manager. “He went on his walkie-talkie, and the next minute, I was surrounded by three to four security guards,” Mr. Daniels told the 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, Mr. 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,” emphasizing that he was not a threat. “I'm disabled, I wasn't a threat to anybody,” he added.
Contrast with Local Asda Experience
Mr. Daniels, a father of four and grandfather of nine, noted that he regularly shops at his local Asda on Smithdown Road in Liverpool without any issues. “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 said. He found the Widnes incident particularly distressing, stating it “knocked me back a lot” and left him feeling upset. “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 Policy and Response
An Asda spokesperson explained that asking for details from mobility scooter users is company policy across all stores. “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 written to Mr. Daniels to explain the policy and remains open to discussing the matter further with him.
