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A veteran Tesco worker with an "exemplary record" has been given a final warning after buying WASHING POWDER for a colleague.

Tracey Boardman, who has worked at the supermarket giant for 34 years, was hauled into the office for a formal meeting after using her 10% staff discount to purchase the pack on her break.

Now the 54-year-old, also known as Kimberley, fears her future at the store in Woolton, Liverpool, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Speaking to the newspaper about the incident, her partner Peter Jones said the colleague she was buying the soap for gets the same discount.

He added: "Every member of staff gets 10% off.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

"Tracey was on her break when she bought three boxes of washing powder in two transactions in which she got two receipts, as one was for another member of staff who was in work.

"She never gave it a second thought as like I say, they all get the same discount.

"But she was then pulled to one side by the store manager and told the system has picked up on the transactions. When she came in on the 29th she went into the office where an in-depth interview took place.

"The end result has been a final warning - there are usually four warnings before this stage, but they are making out as if this is the crime of the century.

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"Tracey has been left crying and really disappointed by how it was handled. She did not go about it in a sneaky way, it was in front of a full shop.

"It never crossed her mind that it was wrong, it is the same discount so who has she deceived? No one."

Tracey, 54, has worked at the Woolton branch for 15 years, but for the supermarket chain for more than double that time.

According to Tesco's website, employee benefits include a monthly saving voucher booklet with money off vouchers as well as the Colleague Clubcard, which offers staff 10% off after six months of service.

(Image: PA) (Image: Getty)

Mr Jones added: "Tracey has never been in any trouble before, she has an exemplary record.

"She accepts she has done something wrong but she has now 12 months where she is going to be watching her back.

"It should never have gone to a final warning, it is about looking after the welfare of staff."

A Tesco spokesperson said: "Our Colleague Clubcard is a much-loved benefit of working at Tesco and all colleagues are aware of the policies about how to use their discount.

"We don’t comment on individual cases however when a colleague is found to have misused their card we do take appropriate action."