Supermarket giant Morrisons was today accused of using scare tactics against three customers planning to sue for damages.

The three claim they were all victims of a pickpocket gang operating in the Bradford Westgate store and they are all claiming the company was negligent by failing to warn shoppers.

They were planning to take the company to a Small Claims Court, claiming damages of about £100 each.

But the store now wants to go to the County Court, where the losing side would have to pay all the legal costs.

Solicitor Jaroslaw Stachiw, who is representing them, claims the company hopes to scare the three into dropping their case because of the possibility they may have to pay the costs.

Mr Stachiw, a partner in Stachiw & Bashir, said: "The tactic is being used as a frightener. The law says that if a claim is for under £3,000 it automatically goes to a Small Claims Court and the person who brings the action does not incur any costs themselves and does not have to pay the other's legal costs.

"But if the case goes to a County Court, the loser pays their own and the other's costs.

"Morrisons have applied to go to County Court because they say there is a legal argument which needs to be settled.

"I can't accept that - in the papers and the summons there is no legal argument."

Miss Elizabeth Hovska, who is on invalidity benefit, claims she lost £60 cash, credit cards and her house keys when the pickpockets struck in March. After the story was published in the T&A she was contacted by the other two shoppers who had also lost cash.

At the time Morrisons confirmed they had no surveillance cameras or signs in the store but said a message was regularly relayed on the tannoy, warning that pickpockets were operating.

A Morrisons spokesman said: "It is in the hands of our legal department and we don't want to make any comment."

Miss Hovska, who lives in Heaton, said: "It's completely ludicrous for a multi-million pound concern to want to go to a County Court over £100.

"They know in the Small Claims Court it isn't going to cost us anything, but in County Court we would be liable to the legal fees if we lose. "I don't want to drop the matter but they are trying to stop us taking it further.''

Another of the three, 59-year-old Mrs Maria Ibbotson of Holme Wood, said she lost a purse containing about £50 cash, gift vouchers and a gold pendant which belonged to her late husband.

"They must be frightened of other people coming forward to do this," she said. "I am disabled and they know I haven't got the money to pay out legal expenses."

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