Man in Argos face mask row

A MAN says he is willing to take Argos to court after staff members removed him from a store for not presenting a face mask exemption certificate.

Yannis Athanasiadis, from Chilwell, was picking up an item from the Argos store in High Street, Long Eaton.

Mr Athanasiadis is exempt from wearing a face mask due to suffering with anxiety issues.

After visiting on December 9, he claims was asked to provide a certificate proving he was exempt from wearing a face mask by a staff member.

The 41-year-old then says he was told to leave the store and says staff then threatened to call the police if he did not do so.

Mr Athanasiadis said: “My anxiety was so bad because of this that I was almost on the verge of calling an ambulance - it was really uncomfortable for me.

“It made me look like I was causing trouble and that I was in the wrong which wasn’t the case. A confrontation like that is extremely difficult for someone who has anxiety to go through. It’s really distressing.”

The government’s coronavirus face mask rules state anyone who is medically exempt may show an exemption certificate if they wish, but they are not required to do so.

Mr Athanasiadis has told the Post he has since returned to the store to serve a letter of claims to Argos, a document stating legal action is set to commence. He says he was also asked to leave on that occasion after again being told he requires a card or certificate confirming his exemption. Mr Athanasiadis continued: “I am determined to take this as far as it needs to go. I intend to take them to court.”

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s, which operates Argos stores, said: “We’re in touch with Mr Athanasiadis to apologise for his experience and reassure him that colleagues have been reminded of our policy to prevent this from happening again. We have also offered a gesture of goodwill and we hope that we can welcome him back into store soon.”