Mum claims she was turned away from Mulberry sale for having her baby asleep in a sling
Multiple members of staff refused her entry into the store - even though she was only there to pick up a bag after it had been repaired
A SHOCKED new mum was turned away at the door of a posh Mulberry sample sale for having her seven-week-old baby asleep in a sling.
Barrister Francesca O'Neill said burly security guards at the event in London's West End told her she'd have to check the sling and a tiny shoulder bag into the cloakroom before she could go in.
The stunned 30-year-old, from South Hampstead, north London, said: "I couldn't believe it.
"My baby was asleep.
"The small wallet-sized bag had a dummy case and a small bottle of formula in it for my baby with my phone, money and keys."
She snapped: "It was outrageous and shocking and completely in breach of maternity discrimination policies."
The top lawyer said she went to the sale at The Music Rooms by tube last Wednesday afternoon with her tot Toby in the Baby Bjorn carrier to buy her husband a bag.
But the mum said she was confronted by a 6ft security guard at the cloakroom as she went to pay the £2 entrance donation.
She said: "He told me I had to put my small bag and baby sling into the cloakroom.
"I told him there was no way I was going to wake my baby, who was clearly asleep.
"I explained I just wanted to pick up a bag for my husband and not browse and that a member of staff could accompany me.
"But he point blank refused to let me in."
In a bid to defuse the tense stand-off a cloakroom assistant called a female manager out to see angry Ms O'Neill.
"I explained my situation and that the small bag had essentials in it in case Toby woke up.
"But she also refused to let me in.
"I was in shock," she said.
"I explained that this was maternity discrimination but she would not let me in.
"She didn't even apologise to me."
Furious Ms O'Neill left before phoning the leading brand's nearby flagship Bond Street store.
She asked staff there to get head office to contact her, but with no luck.
Eventually Ms O'Neill managed to speak to a Mulberry spokeswoman.
"They apologised profusely, so I decided to leave it there.
"They already had a bag of ours in for repair and they offered to waive the repair charge of around £100.
"I think there was just an absence of common sense and kindness," she said.
"When you have a small baby you expect people to try to help if they can and not to make life more difficult.
"They have certainly passed the feedback on to the store and I am sure it won't happen again."
A Mulberry spokeswoman said: "We are concerned to hear about this incident and we will look into it carefully."
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