Man banned FOR LIFE from Sainsbury's after causing scene over single 3p bruised Brussels sprout at customer service desk
A man's Christmas dinner shopping trip ended in a lifetime supermarket ban over a vegetable that cost less than a 5p coin.
Festive Shopping Trip Gone Wrong
What started as a routine grocery run quickly spiraled into a full-blown supermarket showdown that has left one shopper permanently exiled from every Sainsbury's store in the United Kingdom.
The incident, which occurred at a busy Sainsbury's branch in Leeds just days before Christmas, has sparked debate online about customer service policies and proportionate responses to complaints.
According to witnesses, the confrontation began in the produce section when 43-year-old Derek Wilkinson discovered what he described as an "unacceptably damaged" Brussels sprout among his holiday vegetables.
From Sprout to Shout
Rather than simply selecting another sprout or continuing his shopping, Wilkinson reportedly removed the single offending vegetable and made his way directly to the customer service desk.
Store employee Jenny Matthews, who was working at the counter during the incident, recounted the unusual request.
"He came up holding this single sprout between his fingers like it was evidence in a murder trial. I've worked here eight years and never had someone ask for a refund on a single loose vegetable before," she said.
When informed that the sprout in question would amount to approximately 3p based on its weight, Wilkinson allegedly became increasingly agitated.
Escalating Tensions
Store manager Alan Pemberton was called to the scene after Wilkinson's voice could reportedly be heard across multiple aisles.
According to fellow shopper Maria Dawson, who witnessed the exchange, the situation quickly escalated beyond the bruised vegetable.
"He kept saying it was 'the principle of the thing' and that Sainsbury's was 'systematically defrauding customers with substandard produce.' Over a sprout! The poor staff looked absolutely bewildered."
Security camera footage reportedly shows Wilkinson gesticulating wildly while holding the sprout aloft, causing a queue of increasingly frustrated customers to form behind him.
The Final Straw
After nearly 20 minutes of heated discussion about the quality standards of cruciferous vegetables, witnesses report that Wilkinson's behavior crossed a line when he began demanding to speak to "the head of Sainsbury's produce procurement."
When informed this wouldn't be possible, he allegedly threw the sprout onto the counter, where it rolled off and landed on the floor.
It was at this point that manager Pemberton made the decision to issue the lifetime ban.
"We have a zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behavior that impacts other customers' shopping experience," a Sainsbury's spokesperson later confirmed. "While we cannot comment on specific cases, our store managers are authorized to take appropriate action when necessary."
The Aftermath
Wilkinson, who has since taken to social media to share his version of events, maintains that the ban is "grossly disproportionate" and that he was simply standing up for consumer rights.
In a lengthy Facebook post that has since gone viral, he wrote: "All I wanted was acknowledgment that selling bruised vegetables isn't acceptable. Now I'm banned from every Sainsbury's in the country over a 3p sprout."
The ban means Wilkinson is prohibited from entering any of Sainsbury's 1,400+ stores across the UK. Should he attempt to do so, he could potentially face trespassing charges.
What ultimately led to Wilkinson's permanent ban wasn't the complaint itself but rather his escalating behavior after being offered a replacement sprout, a full refund for his entire basket of vegetables, and eventually a £10 gift card – all of which he reportedly refused while continuing to disrupt the store's operations during its busiest shopping period of the year.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson confirmed that while they value customer feedback, they must balance this with maintaining a pleasant shopping environment for all customers, especially during high-stress periods like the pre-Christmas rush.
As for Wilkinson, he's now reportedly completing his Christmas dinner shopping at Tesco, where staff have been forewarned to keep an extra close eye on the quality of their Brussels sprouts.
