More than £3,000 raised for 'heroic' Walsall Morrisons manager sacked for confronting shoplifter

More than £3,000 has been raised to help a former Walsall Morrisons store manager who claims he was sacked for confronting a shoplifter after 30 years of service.

Sean Egan, aged 46, who had worked in the Aldridge Morrisons store for 29 years, said he was sacked after tackling a repeated shoplifter, who became aggressive while being escorted from the supermarket.

Mr Egan, from Lanesfield in Wolverhampton, said the incident happened in December last year and was subsequently investigated by Morrisons.

READ MORE: Walsall locals to hold protest in support of Wolverhampton man 'sacked by Morrisons for tackling shoplifter'

The former store manager was involved in a disciplinary hearing. He told the BBC that during this hearing he had been told he would be dismissed on the grounds of not following the company's deter-and-not-detain policy.

Now, members of the public have set a GoFundMe page with the aim of raising £10,000 to help him take the case to tribunal. and to help him with living costs until he finds a new role. It has raised more than £3,000 in the three days since it was set up.

In a statement on the fundraising page, ‘The Aldridge Community’ wrote: “We are the local customers of Aldridge Morrisons and after years of what can only be described as a true leader that goes ABOVE and BEYOND for his customers, it’s now our turn to repay him for all he’s done for us.If you’ve ever been helped by Sean in store, you’ll know exactly the kind of person he is.

“For nearly 30 years, Sean has been a constant presence in the community, not just as a Store Manager, but as someone who genuinely cared.He supported customers, helped families, led his team with integrity, and always went the extra mile. Many of us will have our own stories of how Sean made a difference.

“Now, Sean is facing one of the toughest challenges of his life. After decades of loyal service, he is taking his case to an employment tribunal to challenge what he believes is an unfair and disproportionate outcome. This isn’t just about one moment, it’s about fairness, loyalty, and standing up for what’s right.

“While fighting this, Sean is also under real financial pressure. Like many of us, he has a mortgage to pay and bills that don’t stop even when life takes an unexpected turn.That’s where we come in as a community.”

Morrisons told the BBC that it could not comment on individual cases, but the health and safety of all colleagues and customers was of paramount importance.

To give to the GoFundMe page, click here.