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Tesco staff left a recovering self-harmer 'disgusted and humiliated' after they refused to sell her alcohol - because they spotted scars on her arms.

Distraught Becci Wain, 21, was trying to buy a bottle of champagne as a present for a friend's birthday when supermarket employees noticed scars where she had self-harmed six months previously.

But despite showing her ID, staff told the healthcare assistant, from Cambridge, her scars meant she couldn't buy the booze, leaving her mortified.

Staff allegedly told her this was the supermarket's policy, however, when she later alerted head office to the incident, she was told no such policy existed.

(Image: Mercury Press)

Becci, who has been seeing a therapist for six months since she stopped self-harming, now wants proper training for all supermarket staff.

She believes that for other, more vulnerable people, the humiliation might have even led to further self-harming.

Becci said: "The bottle of champagne was for my friend's birthday and clearly wasn't for me as I was buying it with a bottle bag and birthday card.

"I showed my ID but then the checkout woman looked at me and said, 'Are you sure you're allowed that with those scars on your arms?'

"She said she didn't want to serve it to me. There were three other customers behind me and it was so humiliating.

Warning: Graphic content

(Image: Mercury Press)

"I asked to see the supervisor and I was made to stand there waiting. The supervisor looked really worried and said that it was Tesco policy to refuse the sale because of my scars. But I think he could see it was a present and said it was fine to serve me.

"The whole experience was so embarrassing. I haven't self-harmed for six months now and my parents have paid for me to have therapy.

"I am in a strong place now, so for someone to dismiss my scars and suggest I am still mentally unstable is disgusting.

"I have worked so hard on it, but they assumed I still had a major issue.

"Me and my friends meet up in the pub once a week together for a few drinks and I've never been refused alcohol there. It's never been a big deal before.

(Image: Mercury Press)

"The most worrying thing is this could lead to someone feeling even worse. Self-harm is like an addiction - if someone points out that you have scars, you might dwell on it to the point where it becomes an issue again. It didn't trigger me, thankfully."

Later that evening Becci contacted Tesco's head office, hoping to find out what policy, if any, is in place relating to serving alcohol to customers with self-harming scars.

She says she was informed that no such policy exists and was sent a bunch of flowers by way of apology from her local store in Fulbourn, but wants to see a change in practice after the way she was treated.

(Image: Mercury Press)

Becci said: "I went back home and spoke to someone in HR and asked them about the so-called policy.

"He said it definitely wasn't a policy of theirs to refuse service for that reason.

"He gave me a transcript of our conversation for me to take into the store.

"I asked for the manager but he couldn't come and see me at the time, which was even more upsetting.

"I would ideally like a formal apology from the member of staff. I am not blaming Tesco, just individuals without the right training.

"I want there to be a massive change in training. Staff need more sensitivity and should know how to deal with things like that.

"It can be humiliating and triggering for people otherwise.

"Some people don't have unblemished skin, and supermarket staff need to be aware of that. I don't make an effort to cover up my scars and I shouldn't have to."

(Image: Mercury Press)

Tesco confirmed that there was no policy in place advising staff to refuse the sale of alcohol to customers with visible scars.

A Tesco spokesman said: "All our store colleagues are trained in the responsible selling of alcohol, but we recognise an error has been made in this instance.

"We're pleased Ms Wain has accepted our apology and will continue to shop with us."

People with mental health issues can contact charity Samaritans 24 hours a day free of charge on 116 123