Police investigating alleged threat by Tesco petrol staff

Brian Thomson, from Galashiels, filled his car with petrol at 11.50pm one evening before a long drive home from Edinburgh after visiting friends.

The 33-year-old floor fitter claims that as staff had already begun cashing the till at the Willowbrae Road store, they were reluctant to serve him and seemed eager to finish their shift and go home.

He says they eventually agreed to let him pay for the fuel after re-opening the till, but as he did so, a second shop assistant muttered the threat under his breath.

Brian ignored the alleged remark at the time, but later made a complaint with customer service.

He said: “We got to the Tesco Express petrol station at 11.50. I could see the guys were cleaning up.

“I was sceptical whether I was going to get fuel or not, as people in that area often shut up shop early.

“I got £50 of fuel and went inside. I said to the guy, ‘number four, please’. He shrugged his shoulders and said he had cashed his till, but I had taken the fuel already so I joked that I should just drive away.

“He laughed, and as he did so the guy behind him said, ‘I would love to smash this guy’s face in’.

“I am not a small guy, there aren’t many people that have said that to me before. I was shocked as it was an openly violent threat.”

Brian filed a complaint with Tesco the following week and has now reported the incident to the police.

He said: “This sort of behaviour should not be allowed to happen anywhere, let alone from someone working front of shop in Tesco.

“It bothered me so much that I decided to contact the police. I don’t think the staff member should get away with what he said.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police received a report of threatening behaviour that happened in the Willowbrae area towards the end of last month. Inquiries are on-going into the full circumstances.”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “This is a police investigation and we will help them with their inquiries.”

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