I was walking through the Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough with my two small children; one of them a baby; the other an autistic toddler. I saw a LOVEFiLM display and moved to avoid them. The salesman walked over and I politely said no thank you. I tried to move on and he stood in front of my pram and I said no.
He then became very aggressive and started shouting, “No, no? You don’t say no to me; nobody says no to me.”
I was very frightened – as a rape victim these are particularly terrifying words. I said that they were representing their company and being rude. I looked to the other salesman for back-up and he just started laughing at me. I walked away with both assistants shouting after me. I had to get my husband to pick me up as I was too scared to walk back through the shopping centre.
I contacted Lovefilm and they said sorry but they have to protect the statutory rights of the employee. Apparently, my right not to be abused in public is secondary.
I cannot help but think this would not have happened if I was a six foot male. I was targeted as a woman with children.
– Anonymous
Location: Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough, UK
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