The 49-year-old ex-employee suffocated himself at his home in Blackpool

A 'dedicated' Tesco worker killed himself after he was sacked for allegedly leaving his till to chase a shoplifter, an inquest has heard.

Father-of-three Shaun Winstanley worked as a customer assistant at a Tesco Express branch in Blackpool.

Mr Winstanley, 49, had worked at different branches for the supermarket giant for 17 years and won several awards including one for Years of Outstanding Service.

However, he was left traumatised after being held up at gunpoint during a store robbery last May.

The long-serving Tesco employee was offered counselling after the robbery, but chased a shoplifter in January which lead to his dismissal.

His family say bosses told Mr Winstanley that his sacking was down to the “unreasonable behaviour” of chasing the shoplifter and putting himself and a customer in danger on January 2.

He appealed the decision but it was rejected.

View photos Mr Winstanley worked for Tesco for 17 years and received a special award for his loyalty. (SWNS) More

Mr Winstanley had confided in a friend that he was having suicidal thoughts following his dismissal and losing the subsequent appeal.

He was found dead at his home after suffocating himself by police officers who forced entry on February 13, an inquest heard.

Mr Winstanley, from Staining near Blackpool, had a history of mental health problems which fell into turmoil after he was held at gunpoint during a robbery in May last year.

An inquest heard, his fragile mental state further deteriorated following the sacking until his eventual death sometime between February 11 and February 13 - nine months after the gunpoint incident.

Speaking after the hearing at Blackpool Town Hall, his devastated step-daughter Siobhan Winstanley, 28, told how she had written to Tesco about her father’s death but was told the matter was closed.

She said: “It is very raw and very difficult for us to come to terms with.

“He was of the very strong opinion that [suicide] was a selfish thing to do, so obviously it’s not something he would have done lightly, knowing he had children.

“I am angry at Tesco. We have got our father in an urn in our living room.

View photos Mr Winstanley's mental health is said to have suffered after he was held up at gunpoint and then later dismissed for chasing a shoplifter. (SWNS) More

“I think there needs to be an awareness of mental health and I think employers need to be doing right by their employees.

“I could try to take them [Tesco] to tribunal but anything they could give me wouldn’t be good enough. It would be blood money. I don’t want money. I want my dad back.

“Seventeen years he gave them and when he needed them most they let him down.

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