A shop worker was pushed up against a counter, grabbed around the neck and sworn at by a customer after asking him to wear a mask.

The member of staff at Baydis in William Street, Herne Bay , was attacked as he set the store up alone soon after opening at 8am.

Owner Kevin Hone says the victim was left shaken and upset following the incident. He has since told his staff not to challenge anyone without a face covering.

“He asked the customer to get his face mask and put it on, and this person turned and became very aggressive,” the shopkeeper said.

“He was using foul language and manhandled him, grabbing his throat and pinning him up against a counter.

“He was shaken over the whole episode. It’s not one of those positions that I’d expect staff to be put in.

“It was totally out of the blue. Had it been at any other time of day, I don’t think it would have happened.”

"We’ve got to show that we are taking it seriously and we don’t allow people in without a mask..."

Mr Hone, who took over the town centre store seven weeks ago, stresses the attack was an isolated incident and that his staff have not been exposed to any similar kinds of aggression.

Government guidelines state face coverings have to be worn in shops and supermarkets, unless an individual is in the exempt category or under the age of 11.

The assault, which took place on Wednesday, September 23, was not reported to police.

“Generally, if we ask the question, the worst we’d get is a look or a few huffs and puffs, nothing more menacing than that,” Mr Hone added.

“We decided that if somebody insists they’re exempt or won’t wear a mask, we’ll either serve them at the entrance to the store or wait for it to empty before allowing them in.

“We’ve got to show that we are taking it seriously and we don’t allow people in without a mask. It’s a difficult one to manage.”

The Federation of Independent Retailers was last month a co-signatory to a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to provide legal protection to shop workers following a spike in abuse and violence.

Meanwhile, at Greenhill store Best-One in Poplar Drive, bosses say about a quarter of Herne Bay High School pupils who enter their shop do not wear masks.

Owner Velupillai Niroshan told the Gazette: “Most of the people are following the rules and social distancing.

“Not all of the schoolkids wear masks; I think about 25% of them aren’t wearing them.

“We don’t argue with anyone about it, so there’s no trouble.”

Anyone caught not covering their face can be fined £200 for their first offence by police.

While stores across the town say they will remind and encourage customers to follow the guidance, they say it is not their responsibility to enforce the rules.

Tony Symons, of Rogers Menswear in William Street, said: “I haven’t experienced a problem yet.

“If you bar somebody coming in without a face mask, you’ll create a confrontation; but as I understand it, it’s not our job to do that.”

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