Overview
- Gary MacArthur was dismissed for gross misconduct in March 2026 after a December 2025 incident in which he restrained a repeat offender, and his appeal in early April failed.
- Hours before the confrontation, he performed CPR on the store’s security guard after a suspected stroke and stayed late to support colleagues as the shift ended.
- The thief, known for targeting high-end champagne, returned to the West Wickham store and hurled bottles at staff before a customer blocked his exit and MacArthur held him until police arrived.
- Sainsbury’s said colleagues should act as a visual deterrent and not tackle offenders, citing a safety-first policy and efforts to boost security and share intelligence with police.
- Retail union Usdaw urged support and training rather than sackings, as recent cases at Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda add to a national debate over rising shoplifting and abuse of staff.