Grieving grandfather ‘sacked by Co-Op for taking out-of-date flowers to lay on his granddaughter’s grave’
'I wasn't even given the chance to explain': Steve Neale, 42, was fired for gross misconduct after reusing bin flowers
A GRIEVING grandad was sacked from a Co-Op shop after taking out-of-date flowers to put on his baby granddaughter's grave.
Steve Neale, 42, took flowers destined for the bin during a shift at the shop in Walney, Cumbria, but was reported by colleagues and later dismissed by his bosses.
His granddaughter Opal Neale died suddenly in her sleep from a severe chest infection in 2012, aged just 18 weeks.
He said: "All of the waste goes in the bin, apart from the food waste which we send to Dalton Zoo so I thought it was be a shame to throw them out.
"The next day I was about to finish when two managers came in and handed me a suspension letter and told me to leave the premises."
Last week, Mr Neale attended a disciplinary meeting and was sacked from his position as deputy store manager having worked for the company for two and-a-half years.
A spokesman for the Co-Op has confirmed Mr Neale has been dismissed for gross misconduct but did not comment further.
Mr Neale added: "In hindsight, I understand that I shouldn't have done it but there was never any malicious or criminal intent.
"I honestly didn't think that what I was doing was stealing."
A post on Mr Neale's Facebook in which he described his dismissal has been shared more than 150 times.
He added: "I need that job, and that income, to support my family.
"I would happily go back to work there if I could. I wasn't even given the chance to explain or put my point across properly."