Sean Egan, 46, was fired from Morrisons after tackling a shoplifter in Aldridge, West Midlands, in December 2024, according to multiple reports. The company stated that Egan was dismissed for failing to follow its 'deter-and-not-detain' policy, which instructs staff not to physically intervene with shoplifters. Egan, however, claims Morrisons threw him under the bus for doing the right thing, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The incident began when Daniel Kendall stole two bottles of Jack Daniels from the store, according to multiple reports. Egan said the shoplifter became aggressive and was spitting on him. According to the Daily Mail, Egan described his instant reaction as flinging his arm back and grabbing the shoplifter's arm to stop him reaching into his bag. Egan also said he felt pressure not to lose money and protect store products, as reported by the same outlet. He called police but was still investigated by Morrisons, according to research from two sources.
Egan started working at Morrisons at age 17 behind the deli counter, according to multiple reports. He earned close to £100,000 including bonuses and lives in a £300,000 house in Wolverhampton, according to multiple reports. Egan has been diagnosed with depression and has suicidal thoughts, according to multiple reports. According to the Daily Mail, Egan described how he and his family are struggling to survive, with his last pay cheque in January. He told BBC News that he had given so much to a business where he lived for work, but in that moment he felt everything he had given was attacked.
The dismissal has drawn sharp political and public backlash. MP Wendy Morton and shadow home secretary Chris Philp wrote to Morrisons CEO urging reinstatement, according to multiple reports. A protest is planned for Saturday morning outside the Aldridge store to demand Egan's reinstatement, according to multiple reports.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called Waitrose's decision 'disgraceful' and urged reinstatement and a bonus for Smith.
Daniel Kendall, the shoplifter, has over 100 offences to his name, according to multiple reports. He was jailed for 46 weeks, according to multiple reports. However, there is a discrepancy in the reported sentence length: some sources say 42 weeks, while others say 46 weeks. This could affect public perception of the severity of the punishment, though it may be a reporting error or reflect different sentencing details.
Morrisons stated that it prioritises employees' health and safety, according to the company. A Morrisons spokesman said that the company is continuing to take wide ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in its stores, and that the health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance. The spokesman added that there are very clear guidance, procedures and controls which must be strictly followed.
In a parallel case, Walker Smith, 54, was sacked by Waitrose after confronting a shoplifter stealing Easter eggs at Clapham Junction branch, according to research from two sources. According to AOL, Smith expressed regret for his actions but said he was compelled to act after witnessing thefts every hour of every day for the last five years without being permitted to intervene. Waitrose stated that media reports of Smith's case do not cover the full facts of the situation, according to the company. Waitrose reiterated that safety policies discourage direct intervention and that the correct process was followed, including an appeals procedure, according to the company.
The Waitrose case also sparked reactions. Lord Richard Walker, executive chairman of Iceland, publicly offered Smith a job via LinkedIn, according to research from two sources. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called Waitrose's decision disgraceful and urged reinstatement and a bonus for Smith, according to research from two sources. Philp wrote a letter to Waitrose managing director Tom Denyard posted on social media, according to research from two sources. Shoplifting offences increased by 5% in the year to September 2025, according to research from two sources.
Several unknowns remain. It is unclear what specific actions by Egan violated Morrisons' 'deter-and-not-detain' policy. Whether Morrisons offered Egan any severance or support after his dismissal has not been disclosed. The outcome of the protest planned for Saturday is not yet known. It is also unclear whether Waitrose reinstated Walker Smith or offered any resolution. The exact timeline of the incident and Egan's dismissal—the date of the incident and the date of firing—has not been confirmed.