A new mother was left in floods of tears after being called a ‘slut’ by two customers for breastfeeding in a coffee shop.
Rhea
Holley was with a friend, both with new babies, in Costa Coffee in
Purley, south London, when her son Arthur began to cry for a feed.
The
27-year-old, Said she knew that Costa Coffee
was ‘breast-feeding friendly’ and so she started to feed her 11-month
old.
Within
seconds, however, a couple sitting nearby started calling her a ‘slut’
and telling her she was ‘disgusting’ and that her feeding the baby in
public was ‘offensive’.
Mrs Holley said she was left in ‘floods of tears’ after being abused by the couple, who were in their 60s.
Said she spoke to Costa Coffee workers, who ‘reprimanded the couple’, telling them breastfeeding was allowed in public.
One
barista told the couple that The Equality Act 2010 bans anyone asking a
breast-feeding woman to leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or
public transport and warned them to stop being abusive.
Speaking
after the incident in Brighton Road, Purley, mother-of-one Rhea said:
'Arthur was asleep at the time so I went in and ordered us some drinks
and cake.
'While we sat there Arthur woke up and he was quite upset and so I started to breast-feed him.
'A couple were on a table that was facing in such a way that they did not have to look at me.
'I
heard one of them say "it is disgusting", that I know what time babies
should be fed and should stay at home then, and that I was a "slut".'
Speaking
about the barista and Costa staff, who ‘told off’ the couple, she said:
'It was so good of them - not only to stand by the law on breast-feeding
but also to be so supportive of someone feeling so upset.'
A spokesman for Costa said: 'Mothers bring in children of all ages to Costa and they are always warmly welcomed by us.
'We have always been very happy for mothers to breast-feed in our stores offering a family-friendly environment that is the perfect place for mums to relax with their children.'
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