Here no evil: Toyshop owner refuses to sell Harry Potter goods over fears they turn children to the occult



'Face of evil': Harry Potter is banned because of fears that it promotes the occult

A chain of toy shops is refusing to sell Harry Potter products over fears that they encourage children to turn to witchcraft.

Devout Christian Gary Grant owns the chain of Entertainer shops and says he has never sold merchandise from the films in any of his shops, fearing that he may be responsible for attracting children to the occult.

Customer Jennifer Gledhill was shocked when she turned up at the new store in Wakefield with her eight-year-old son Thomas, claiming she was told the shop didn't stock Harry Potter Lego because it didn't believe in teaching children evil.

Mrs Gledhill, 40, from Wakefield, said: 'I asked the store manager for help in finding the new Harry Potter Lego and he said "Look, we're a Christian company, we don't believe in teaching children evil".

'I felt insulted as if he was trying to brand me or my son evil.

'I replied saying that I didn't teach my son evil - he just wanted to buy some Lego.'

Mr Grant, who is managing director of The Entertainer chain, the largest independent toy retailer in the country, says he isn't trying to push his values on to customers and hopes Mrs Gledhill will return to the store soon.

However, he remains adamant that Harry Potter merchandise will never be sold at any of his stores.

He said: 'There are, with the Harry Potter films and books, references to cult practices such as witchcraft and sorcery. I am ultimately responsible and accountable for all that goes on within the business.

'I have to oversee the products and make sure I feel happy with the items we are selling.

'Over the years I haven't stocked Trolls - characters with mystical, magical powers. I don't stock Halloween products at all.

The owner of the Entertainer chain of shops, Gary Grant, also refuses to sell Trolls and Halloween merchandise

'I don't want to encourage children to be dabbling with anything at all that might be to do with the occult.

'It (Halloween) might be good fun for children, but it's not the sort of good fun I would choose to promote.'



The devout Church of England boss also closes all his stores on a Sunday, believing it is a day of rest and that his staff should spend the day with their children.