DOWN’S syndrome sufferer Stephanie Couldry was left humiliated and ashamed when Morrisons threw her out while shopping for her disabled parents – because she might steal.

The 30-year-old, who lives independently in Grange Park, regularly shopped at the supermarket’s Haydon Wick branch on her mobility scooter when she visited her elderly parents and was well-known to staff.

When Morrisons received customer complaints concerning her speed – and staff caught her forgetting to scan some items through the self-check-out machines on several occasions – they held a meeting with Stephanie, accompanied by her sister. It was agreed that, despite not requiring a full-time carer, she would not visit the store on her own.

But when Stephanie subsequently visited the store alone on Saturday, July 4, a member of staff told her to "get out before she caused any mischief".

Stephanie said: “I was in there going shopping for my mum and dad. I had gone there to get something for them because they couldn’t go in and get it.

"When I was there a person came up and said ‘what are you doing here?’ and ‘get out now’. They said it was in case I caused a bit of mischief and trouble. I didn’t say anything – I just got out of there.

“I was a bit upset because I have been to Morrisons before. I go there a lot. I go there on my mobility scooter or I walk. I was unhappy about it and I told mum and dad about it. They were very upset about it and for me.”

Stephanie’s family were outraged by what had happened, especially her 53-year-old brother-in-law Stephen Parsons, of Penhill.

“It was absolutely disgusting,” he said. “She has been there before lots of times. She had been in there the day before. I don’t think she would want to go back there again after what has happened. And I don’t think her mum and dad would want to shop there again.”

A Morrisons spokesman said: “Stephanie is well known in our Haydon Wick store and continues to visit regularly. Several times, Stephanie has been found leaving the store without having paid for a significant part of her shop.

“Keen to continue welcoming her, the store team agreed with Stephanie and her family that she would be accompanied in the future to help avoid this happening again. On this occasion, Stephanie was alone and asked to leave.”