EXCLUSIVE: The person thinks “Christians are clearly not welcome at Pret a Manger”.
Mr Cleghorn seen on Pret a Manger CCTV carrying a Jesus flag. (Picture: Pret a Manger)
A Christian man is suing the Pret a Manger espresso chain after being requested whether or not he had paid by a member of employees whereas carrying a flag with the phrase “JESUS” throughout his again.
David Cleghorn, 43, instructed the Specific he was left “humiliated and distressed” after a member of employees at Pret allegedly confronted him exterior a department at London’s Royal Competition Corridor on September 13, 2025.
He was attending the Tommy Robinson rally after which stopped on the Southbank retailer for lunch.
He instructed the Specific: “It began raining actually closely as I used to be strolling alongside the Southbank with my associates, so we jumped into the Pret for a fast sandwich and till the rain stopped. I used to be additionally bursting for the bathroom so I paid for my sandwiches after which put them within the kangaroo pocket of my hoodie earlier than going to the lavatory.
“After I re-emerged from the lavatory, the sandwiches had been nonetheless in my pocket, and I walked out of the restaurant with nothing in my fingers.”
Mr Cleghorn seen paying for his meals (Picture: Pret a Manger)
Moments later, in response to the claimant, a member of employees adopted him and requested him whether or not he had paid for his meals. The alternate was allegedly loud and in entrance of different clients who, in response to Mr Cleghorn, additionally joined the feud. This, he added, left him feeling very uncomfortable and anxious.
CCTV footage obtained by way of a Topic Entry Request exhibits him paying for his meals, inserting it in his pocket, coming into the lavatory and later leaving the shop. The footage additionally exhibits a lady who seems to be a member of Pret’s employees following Mr Cleghorn shortly after. The video doesn’t include audio for the Specific to independently confirm the claims about what was stated.
Mr Cleghorn is bringing his declare underneath Part 10 of the Equality Act 2010, which protects people from discrimination primarily based on faith or perception. The matter is at present at an early procedural stage inside the Civil Nationwide Enterprise Centre and has not but been allotted to a listening to court docket. No decide has thought of the proof and no findings of truth have been made.
Mr Cleghorn’s perception that he was judged primarily based on his look is predicated on an alternate which allegedly befell after the until data had been checked. He alleged the employees member apologised however remarked that “even folks with good garments do it”.
He then responded, “am I not carrying good garments? Is that why you accused me?”, and that she allegedly replied, “folks in fits do it”. Mr Cleghorn stated this dialog contributed to his perception that he had been judged on his look.
Pret a Manger declined to remark (Picture: Getty)
He added the incident prompted him “public humiliation, embarrassment, misery and anxiousness”, arguing that Christians should not be handled with suspicion for expressing their religion.
He stated: “I’m a proud Christian and I used to be carrying my spiritual flag as an indication of my Christian religion.
“I can clearly see the member of employees observing me and following me after noticing my flag on the CCTV and it is upsetting that she discriminated me for what I used to be carrying however this does not deter me, I’ll fortunately put on it once more.
“Christians are clearly not welcome at Pret a Manger so I will not be attending there once more.”
In its filed Defence, Pret denies discrimination. It states that the interplay was a short enquiry made in good religion, prompted by issues about potential unpaid gadgets throughout a interval of heightened vigilance because of current theft incidents and a close-by public occasion.
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The defence additional provides that the employees member didn’t discover the phrase “JESUS” on the flag and thought it was a soccer flag. Pret accepts that Mr Cleghorn paid for his meals and states that an apology was issued.
The court docket is but to find out whether or not the worker’s actions amounted to illegal discrimination or whether or not the enquiry was a authentic loss-prevention test.
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