Primark guard snatched my baby as I was breastfeeding claims mum
A MOTHER claims a store guard pulled her baby from her breast and carried the child out of the door.
Caroline Starmer, 28, alleges that enough force was used to leave her with serious bite marks.
The mother-of-four insists she was discreetly breastfeeding nine-monthold Paige in the Primark store when the guard approached her and said ‘you can’t do that here’.
She added: ‘When I tried to explain my daughter needed feeding and it was my right to breastfeed wherever I wanted he just ripped Paige off my breast. He said: “If you want your baby back, follow me”.’
Mrs Starmer recovered her baby and reported the incident to the police.
Last night Primark denied the allegations and said CCTV from its Leicester store did not show any altercation. A spokesman added that none of their security staff matched the man’s description.
Leicestershire Police confirmed initial inquiries were being made into the allegations. Mrs Starmer’s solicitor says she may still pursue legal action regardless of CCTV evidence.
Since posting about the incident on Facebook on Monday night, thousands have backed Mrs Starmer on social media and called for the guard to be prosecuted.
Emma Pickett, of the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, said: ‘This story is beyond the normal level of a mother having a problem in a shop. This person had no awareness of English law and has not been trained properly by the company.
‘ Primark needs to train their employees better. He has broken English law by asking her not to breastfeed.
‘To pull a baby off can damage the nipples. A baby taken from her mother as described could also be interpreted as assault and kidnapping.
‘This is not just about breastfeeding rights, this is a criminal situation.’
Jacque Gerrard, of the Royal College of Midwives, said: ‘ The Equality Act 2010 has made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to stop breastfeeding, cover up or leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport. Perhaps it is time to extend infant feeding education to the wider public arena to ensure that we are developing a culture of positive support for breastfeeding women wherever they choose or need to feed their babies.’
A spokesman for Primark said: ‘We have investigated this customer’s allegation which we naturally take very seriously indeed.
‘The CCTV footage, reviewed by store management, shows the customer in the Leicester store quite clearly during the time in question. We can see no evidence she was approached by anyone.
‘We have spoken to the security guards on duty. They categorically deny behaving in the way alleged. Furthermore the individuals do not fit the description given by the customer.
‘We have therefore concluded that the customer allegation is not supported by the available evidence.
‘At Primark, we work hard to provide all the comfort and facilities possible to our customers. Our policy is quite clear: we do not prohibit breastfeeding. In addition, any customer can request a quiet or private area within the store to breastfeed.’
‘Assault and kidnapping’