A shopper with severe health problems says he felt like a "scumbag" after a cashier asked to search his bag at the checkout.

Eugene Sales says the request made at the Gillingham Aldi "embarrassed" him and made him look like a thief to other customers.

The incident happened as he put his goods on the conveyor belt from his personal holdall at the Duncan Road store on Tuesday.

The 56-year-old said: "I was dumbstruck. I suffer from anxiety and did well not to lose my temper, so just did it to get out of the shop. Once outside I was spitting feathers."

The air conditioning engineer, who has been unable to work because of ill health, added: "Perhaps they have a problem with shoplifting.

"There are enough drug addicts and alcoholics in the High Street, but why tar everyone with the same brush? It made me feel like I was scumbag."

He also argued if he were a suspect he should have been questioned by store detectives once outside.

He said: "It shouldn't be down to the cashiers to do this. In some situations like this it can get violent and the police are alerted."

He noticed another man in the queue also being asked to hand over his bag, and says that outside there was an elderly couple at the bus stop who were "clearly upset" after being asked to do likewise.

Since falling ill with heart problems and undergoing several operations, he now relies on benefits and goes to the discount store because it is cheap.

He walks from his home in Rainham Road, Chatham, and spends about £60 on his twice-weekly visits.

He added: "I used to earn £1,000 week, so this is a culture shock for me. I really don't need to be treated like a criminal."

An Aldi spokesman said: "With customers' permission, we are conducting more frequent bag checks at the Gillingham store due to a recent increase in shoplifting."

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