A Morrisons manager who was sacked for tackling a violent serial shoplifter said he has been 'blown away' by supportive protests outside the store but accused the supermarket's bosses of ignoring him.

Sean Egan, 46, worked at the Aldridge store, near Walsall, for 29 years but was fired after intervening during an 'abusive' altercation with a prolific thief who stole good last December.

Morissons bosses fired him at a disciplinary hearing for not following the company's deter-and-not-detain policy even after the shoplifter became 'aggressive' and started spitting at him. 

The employee, from Wolverhampton, who had worked for the company since he was 17, said he and his family are now struggling to 'survive', with his last pay cheque coming through in January.

The father added that it has been difficult to move forward from the dismissal after being so invested in his work.

Mr Egan has been branded a hero by local shoppers and dozens gathered outside the Aldridge store on Saturday, demanding his reinstatement.

Protesters vowed to boycott the supermarket and held signs calling for 'justice for Sean Egan' and telling Morrisons to 'do the right thing'.

Mr Egan, who has suffered with crippling anxiety since being sacked, said the support he received from the protest was 'incredible'.

But he admitted he was upset to be blanked by bosses at the supermarket who were watching from nearby.

He said: 'Wow. I'm genuinely blown away. The support I received yesterday was incredible.

'My community, my customers, my colleagues… you showed up. And those that didn't even know me, you showed up for me! And that means more than I can put into words. Even those who felt they had to support quietly, I see you, and I'm grateful.

'Yesterday was something special. I had customers bringing me handwritten letters, signs, banners… even Factor 50 sunscreen, but more than anything, it was the genuine warmth and support that stood out. I had goosebumps all day.

He added: 'The turnout exceeded anything I expected, and it's a reminder of just how powerful the community can be when people come together for something they believe in.

'I was disappointed not to receive a simple acknowledgement from the Senior Leadership Team at Morrisons who were nearby observing events today, particularly after everything I've given over the years.

'But I won't let that take away from what today was really about.

'Gratitude. Community. And people standing together. And this is not the end. I have so many things planned. There are changes I want to help make happen. This is just the beginning.

'Nothing but love.' 

Morrisons has been contacted for comment. 

The fallout of the incident saw the father, who had transformed numerous underperforming stores into some of the most profitable branches in the West Midlands, left penniless just three weeks before Christmas. 

Mr Egan was sacked for trying to thwart drug addict Daniel Kendall who regularly targeted the store and others nearby, launching a one-man crime wave with more than 100 offences to his name.

He once told a court that he needed to steal to fund his £50 per day heroin habit.

After being convicted of robbery and shoplifting in 2019, a judge told him: 'You have been a public menace because of your addiction. Shopkeepers and those who work in shops need to be protected by the court.'

Following his latest crime spree which included the theft that led to Mr Egan's sacking, he has since been imprisoned for 46 weeks for multiple offences.

Mr Egan told the Mail: 'I dedicated my whole life to Morrisons, but they did not even take my 29 years of service into account and just threw me under the bus for standing up for what is right.'

Speaking previously, he said: 'I don’t think people understand what this really does to someone. Just 3 weeks before Christmas… I was asking myself one question… How am I going to give my kids the Christmas they deserve?

'I joined Morrisons at 17. It wasn’t just a job. It was my identity. My life. My purpose. 29 years of loyalty. And now… it’s gone.

'Not only have I lost my career, I’ve never felt so unheard, unseen, and disposable in my entire life.'

Mr Egan said he was investigated by Morrisons and dragged through a disciplinary which he appealed the results of to no avail.   

He told BBC News: 'I've given so much to a business where I've actually lived for work... but in that moment I felt like everything I had given was attacked.'

Typical policy would see Mr Egan escort a shoplifter off the premises, but the store manager said the thief had become 'aggressive' and was spitting on him.

He said it was his 'instant reaction' to fling his arm back. He said he then grabbed the shoplifter's own arm to stop him reaching into his bag, which led to the altercation.

Mr Egan continued: 'My thought is, 'I've got to stop this guy. I don't know what he's going to do, not only to me, but anybody else'.'

He told how he felt pressure not to lose money and protect the store's products. Mr Egan said he called police called but was still investigated by the company.

A Morrisons spokesman said: 'We are continuing to take wide ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores.

'The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons. We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm, which must be strictly followed.

'These include detailed procedures for handling shoplifting incidents, which are in place to protect both the colleague involved and surrounding colleagues and customers, and which seek to de-escalate and calmly control the situation. We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk.

'As a responsible employer, our focus is entirely on taking the correct action to ensure health and safety is maintained at all times.'
  Mr Egan is thought to be meeting with Morrisons Chief Executive, Rami Baitieh, next week.

In a letter to MP Wendy Morton, MrBaitieh said the company had 'refrained from detailed public comment because he claimed it would not be helpful for Mr Egan.

A Morrisons spokesperson said the shop could not comment on individual cases but correct procedures were followed and 'subsequent reporting does not reflect the full facts of the situation'.

'The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons,' they added.

'We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm which must be strictly followed.

'We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk where they could suffer unintended consequences.'

Mr Egan is not the only shop worker to face consequences after tackling shoplifters. 

Waitrose shop assistant Walker Smith, who had been employed by the chain for 17 years, revealed earlier this month that he was sacked for tackling an Easter egg thief.

Mr Smith was fired days after confronting a 'repeat offender' who had filled a bag with eggs at the branch in Clapham Junction, South West London.

The 54-year-old grabbed the bag from the thief, sparking a tug-of-war and the £13 bag of Lindt eggs to spill on to the floor.

Waitrose has a strict policy that staff should not confront shoplifters and Mr Smith was sacked a few days later.

Waitrose defended its decision, claiming there is a 'serious danger to life' in tackling thieves and its staff policies must be 'strictly followed' – but the chain faced a furious backlash over the decision.

Meanwhile, an Asda supermarket worker who confronted a shoplifter was sacked after 25 years' loyal service for trying to prevent him from getting away.

Gavin Ramsay, 49, worked as a porter collecting trolleys and shopping baskets at the Asda supermarket in South Shields when he saw a group of rowdy young people emerge from the store with bottles of alcohol they had stolen.

He was dismissed for gross misconduct two weeks after the incident for not adhering to the retailer's policy that staff should not physically challenge shoplifters.