Mum left horrified over swastika on toy package
A LLANELLI mum said she was left feeling “sick” and “angry” after receiving a parcel intended for her five-year-old son, which had been defaced with Nazi symbols.
Lisa Davies, 41, who lives in Swiss Valley, said she ordered a Man United “Elf on the Shelf” for her five-year-old son from retail giant Sports Direct ready for Christmas.
But the mum said that when she opened the sealed parcel she found that the package for the toy had been covered with Nazi symbols that someone had appeared to have drawn on.
Included on the box was a swastika which had been drawn over a Manchester United badge, the words “Christmas Adolf” instead of “Christmas Elf”, “Hitler’s Workshop” instead of “Winners Workshop” and a black moustache likened to the one associated with Adolf Hitler.
The mum said that she didn’t notice what had been drawn on the box at first: “I just thought it was a shame that there was black pen all over the box, but then I looked closer and couldn’t believe my eyes – I was in shock.
“I took pictures and sent them to my partner and my family who all said that it was shocking and that they couldn’t believe it.”
Ms Davies said she thought a disgruntled employee or a football fan with an aversion to Man United might have defaced the box but that the symbols were no laughing matter.
“I thought maybe it was just someone who really doesn’t like Man U, but those symbols are so disgusting that it made me feel sick, there is no excuse, it is not a joke.”
The swastika is an ancient icon in some cultures such as Hinduism and Buddhism, but was adopted by the Germany Nazi Party in the 1930s and went on symbolise the Aryan race, Nazism and antisemitism.
It is now considered a symbol of hate and white supremacy and because of the stigma, it is prohibited in countries like Germany.
Now use of the symbol is considered a hate crime by police. In September, police were making inquiries after a van was seen driving through Cross Hands with a Nazi flag draped across it.
A man was also arrested in Neath last summer on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after a Nazi flag was spotted hanging outside a house.
After receiving the package, the mum contacted the police’s non-emergency line 101 and Sports Direct.
“I didn’t know if it was a crime but it did make me feel paranoid, I know it’s ’s not possible but in my y head I was thinking what at if someone got my y address and sent that to o me on purpose – it did d go through my mind.
“I’m just glad I opened the box before because I wouldn’t have wanted my son to see it, I don’t even want it in my house, I am so angry about it.”
A spokesperson for Dyfed-powys Police confirmed that a report of a hate incident had been received on October 2 which had been recorded.
After contacting Sports Direct, Lisa was offered a replacement elf the next day and a £25 gift voucher.
A response from Sports Direct to Lisa read: “I am very sorry to see your item has arrived in this condition. All items pass through quality control before being allocated to an order, this item must have been missed and it certainly isn’t acceptable.
“We would ld like lik t to fi firstly tl offer you our sincerest apologies for receiving an item defaced in such a way. I will pass this information to our warehousing team who will look to trace the route of this issue to ensure nothing like this can happen again.
“We are very sorry your item was received in this condition and will be sure to investigate.”
But Lisa said:: “I think that response was insulting. I’m not bothered about the money at all, but it’s the principle.”