Man Covered In Boils Humiliated After 'Being Told To Remove Facial Bandages'

Kevin Longden developed septicaemia five years ago after root canal surgery.

The blood poisoning condition caused pus to leak from his cheeks before boils started breaking out across his face. He was rushed to A&E and eventually recovered from the life-threatening illness.

The 36-year-old has since been undergoing laser treatment to rectify the facial scars left from the boils, but he has been wearing bandages to ensure he doesn't get an infection.

He was therefore shocked when he claims he was recently asked to remove his bandages so staff could identify him when buying alcohol at his local supermarket.

Credit: Mercury Press

He says he was humiliated when, after leaving hospital, he visited Morrisons in Keighley, West Yorkshire, to pick up some bread and beer. Kevin claims that the manager and checkout operator refused to serve him unless he took off his facial bandages.

Credit: Mercury Press

Morrisons says the store did refuse to sell him alcohol because the store could not 'verify his age' but it says staff did not tell him to remove bandages.

But the experience left Kevin devastated. He says: "I'm appalled. It's my local Morrisons and the staff know me. They know me and know my age. I'm obviously not going to walk around with bandages on my face for the sake of it.

"I wouldn't take it that far if I was underage and just wanted to get served. I was in shock. No-one knows what it's like to be walking down the street and have people staring at you."

He says, as a result of the confrontation, he had to go back to hospital and have a district nurse reapply the bandages.

Credit: Mercury Press

A spokesperson from Morrisons says: "Staff at the store did not recognise the customer and, as they couldn't verify his age, were unable to sell him alcohol. At no time did we ask him to remove his bandages."

But Kevin insists he won't be returning anytime soon.

"It is painful and, obviously with a sore head, I have to sleep on my back or all the bandages stick to my face," he says.

"To make me remove my bandages in front of everyone shows they have no conscience or logic. I'll be changing supermarkets in the future."

Featured Image Credit: Mercury Press

Topics: Morrisons

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie