Distraught mother leaves Harrods in disgust as staff ban disabled son's wheelchair

London
Tuesday 23 June 2015 at 12:59pm

A distraught mother left Harrods in disgust after staff banned her disabled son from using his wheelchair. Shelley Wall was on a day out with her family when she was told she could not take the specially modified chair into the famous store.

Shelley was told by a security guard the distinctive blue wheelchair would have to be left in the luggage area, because it looked more like a toy.

Credit: Facebook/Shelly Bobbins

Writing on Facebook, Shelley said:

Credit: PA

Three-year-old Noah was born in March 2012 and diagnosed with Spina Bifida. He is paralysed from the chest down.

Credit: YouTube/The Shelley Bobbins

Video from YouTube/The Shelley Bobbins

Speaking to ITV News, Shelley added: "I was so upset, I just wanted to go".

Harrods apologised to Shelley, for what was an 'unintentional error in judgement'.

Following yesterday’s incident, Harrods has now spoken to Michelle [Shelley] Wall to offer our sincere apologies and ask how we can make amends. We have welcomed Michelle’s suggestion that she comes to the store to train key staff in the different types of wheelchairs available and are in the process of arranging it. As part of the visit, Harrods will treat Michelle, Noah, and the rest of their family to a lunch in the Disney Café and a special tour of our toy department. Noah is also first on the list for a VIP trip to see Father Christmas in the grotto later in the year. Harrods wishes to emphasise that at no point were any of Michelle’s family banned from or denied entry into Harrods and our policy is to welcome all wheelchair users to the store. We look forward to seeing the Wall family at Harrods very soon.