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Accidental Shoplifting
On 21st December I was accused of shoplifting. I was in Asda near Leatherhead shopping on the split level floors of homeward and groceries. Flitting between the two trying to find my last minute shopping list items. I took my own reusable grocery bag and put my items neatly inside as I always do, I then put some teaplates and a candle from homeware in the trolley. I suffer badly with my mental health and am currently on sick leave from work due to to it. I do t leave the house much only to get my essentials. I suffer with severe anxiety, depression and dissociative disorder. I get jittery and paranoid on occasions when it’s really bad. On this occasion I felt overwhelmed and stepped into the foyer to call my partner to come help me. I couldn’t get any signal in the center part of the store. I was soon approached by two security officers to whom I explained what I was doing but they didn’t believe me. They said they’d been watching me put my groceries in my own plastic reusable bag in my trolley and that’s classed as concealement. My items were a fruit and veggies and one piece of meat. They said my behaviour was nervous and it raised their attention. I was interviewed by them whilst they ridiculed me and I didn’t feel able to fully open up about my health impact. I denied the deliberate intention to steal and they was in the process of issuing me a store ban, all the while being insulting, making personal assumptions and comments about me, my lifestyle, the fact they believed I do this all the time, they had a theory I was calling my partner to meet me as an accomplice…, it was horrendous. To make matters worse, when they were scanning up my items for a total value two of the three had their labels removed. They asked me if I’d done that and I said I hadn’t. They threatened to keep me in the store all night if I didn’t tell them where I’d put the labels. They said if I admitted deliberate intention to steal then I wouldn’t be locked up in the police cells for the night. I was terrified. I wasn’t allowed to call my uncle who’s a practicing barrister, they wouldn’t allow me to call my partner, and when I tried to start voice recording they asked me to stop. Eventually I said I’d done it all if it please them to hear that, if I could just go home. I was crying and felt in a daze. Then they called the police as id confessed intention to steal. The police came and were nice and fair, I answered all their questions and gave multiple forms of id. My criminal record check was run clear. They said they would write to me or phone me in a few days or a week after the case goes through a triage system with the police/CPS.
I am an absolute wreck. Please help.
I am an absolute wreck. Please help.
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