Man banned from Asda in Yeovil after stripping off for naked petrol pump prank
A Yeovil man who stripped naked at a petrol station for a prank has been banned by supermarket staff who failed to see the funny side.
Liam Marsh, 20, of Abbey Manor Park, took off his clothes and posed for a photograph at the Asda filling station, on Preston Road.
He said he then posted a picture of the prank on a Facebook group called Petrol Pump Stances which encourages its members to share photographs of themselves in humorous poses at filling stations.
Mr Marsh said: “You have to take photographs of you filling up your car with fuel in weird positions. No one had done it naked before so I thought I would do that.
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“The store was shut. It was one in the morning. No one was in the car park apart from some of my friends to make it look more realistic.”
Mr Marsh said he was pulled over by police the day after the incident in October and warned not to do it again.
Then about a month later he said he was told by a friend, an employee at the store, that he was not allowed back in Asda again.
He added: “I thought they would take the humour from it. There’s no Asda logo in the picture.
“I think they’ve taken it too far. I don’t see why the punishment is so harsh for something they could laugh about. It doesn’t offend anyone or hurt anyone.”
His friend Sam Jones, 19, of St Michael’s Road, Yeovil, claims he was also banned after he went into the supermarket in an effort to resolve the situation.
He claims he has heard a number of reasons why – including that he was rude to an Asda worker and was seen driving erratically in the store’s car park – but has never been officially told by a manager at the supermarket. Mr Jones denies both allegations.
The situation came to a head last week when both men were escorted out of the store by security when they attempted to shop there, Mr Jones said.
He added: “I asked for written confirmation that I’m banned and a reason why. They haven’t done that or even taken my address.”
Martin Dunscombe, Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman, said: “On Sunday, October 7, police received an allegation of indecent exposure by staff at Asda, on Preston Road, in Yeovil.
“We spoke to the person who reported the offence, as well as staff at the store, and advised we would speak to the man regarding his behaviour. They were happy the incident had been dealt with and did not wish to pursue the matter any further."
A spokesman for Asda confirmed that the pair had been banned from the premises.
He said: “We are aware of the incident at our Yeovil store, and believe it has been dealt with appropriately.
“We appreciate someone with a good sense of humour, but petrol stations can be a dangerous place and this was just a joke too far.”
4 Comments
by blaacksheep
Wednesday, April 10 2013, 2:44PM
“Every care is taken when performing petrol pump stances & we have a full team of hi visibility vested health & safety nerds on standby with a full firecrew. What Liam did was funny & nothing else. Watch out though Jeltz as it could be you we catch unawares standing stupidly while filling up that BANDWAGON you seem to be riding on.”
by jeltz
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 5:24PM
“The other people using the filling station should have to put up with a flasher and Asda doesn't have to give him a reason, let alone a written one, to choose not to do business with him. Using that shop isn't his right.
He needs to grow up and get a grip on reality instead of getting a grip on what it looks like he's gripping in that picture.”
by siarad2
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 4:42PM
“It's not an offence to be naked in public.
For years a Cambridge man, Mr Collins, did it just so.
Bournemouth Sandbanks people were, apparently so alarmed, swooning women blocking the pavements perhaps, be was taken to court under the Public Order Act.”
by cardinal_sin
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 2:40PM
“"We appreciate someone with a good sense of humour, but petrol stations can be a dangerous place and this was just a joke too far."
Yeah, a big flash like that could have caused a massive explosion!!”
by cardinal_sin
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 2:40PM
“"We appreciate someone with a good sense of humour, but petrol stations can be a dangerous place and this was just a joke too far."
Yeah, a big flash like that could have caused a massive explosion!!”