A TEENAGER was detained for more than four hours by shop security staff despite producing a receipt for a hooded top he was alleged to have stolen.

And after store staff let him go on the advice of the police, they still refused to hand over the top he feels he had proved he paid for.

Craig Smith, 19, of Huxley Road, Leyton, visited the Primark store in High Road, Leytonstone, and bought a number of items, including a charcoal-coloured hooded top for £6.85.

The next day Mr Smith was shopping with his girlfriend Anjeli and entered the store again wearing the top.

He and his girlfriend looked at a number of items, but left without buying anything.

As he was in the High Road about to use a cash machine a number of security staff from Primark and the manager surrounded him and accused him of stealing the top.

He said: “I was outraged and insulted, they said I had stolen the top and a member of security had seen me put it on, but I hadn’t.

“I said to the manager we should go and look at the CCTV, and he agreed, but when we got to the store he said the shop did not have cameras.”

Mr Smith was then detained in an office at the store, but said he had the receipt at home to prove his innocence.

He phoned his father Michael, who went into his son’s house to fetch the receipt for the top.

But when the receipt was produced, the manager still did not let him go.

Mr Smith said: “He said I could have bought the top before and come in to steal another one.”

According to the Smiths, the manager made it clear the security guard would not be offering an apology and said he would only let Mr Smith go if the family promised not to make a complaint about the store and its staff.

The police were called and advised the manager to let Mr Smith go, but the store kept his top.

The family is now planning to make a formal complaint against the store and is considering taking legal action.

Primark failed to comment on the story.

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