THUGS refusing to wear masks have wreaked havoc in Southend – with one hurling homophobic abuse at a Greggs worker and another trashing a store’s outdoor displays. 

In one incident, a man was refused entry to a Nisa Local store before shouting at staff, aggressively kicking a plastic crate across the pavement and pulling down a flower display outside the shop on Rayleigh Road, Eastwood. 

It’s believed the man “didn’t want to wear a mask” and so was served while he waited outside the shop – but store workers say trouble erupted once he’d returned from his car.

A separate incident is said to have seen a hate crime committed when a shopper launched verbal abuse at a member of staff in Greggs on Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff.

After asking the customer –who was a man – to wear a face mask when he entered the store, the staff member was met with intimidating behaviour and homophobic abuse.

However, neither incident has been linked by Essex Police.

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But Kimberley O’Connell, whose sister works at the Nisa store, says there is “no excuse” for such behaviour.

The 46-year-old said: “It is so sad, not many people put their staff before profit but this business does. I don’t think one person there has had Covid.

“My sister was actually one of the girls who pointed to the shop owner and said the man was coming back. She was outside holding a trolley at the time, and if that flower stand hit her it would’ve been horrible.

“They are used to the abuse. It’s awful. Especially when people come in and do stuff like this, it’s disgusting.

“These people are on the frontline, I know they’re such grafters and it’s such a nice little shop. The man was told he couldn’t enter the shop without a mask and instead of refusing to serve him entirely they said we will serve you outside. So there is no excuse.”

Martin Terry, councillor for community safety and customer contact, added: “It’s dangerous enough for the staff with the virus around without this abuse.

"People need to learn mask wearing won’t go away, it’s likely to be around for a very long time – this is just utterly selfish behaviour.”

If you have any information regarding the Nisa Local incident, which took place at 9.15am on January 18, call 101.

A spokesperson from Essex Police, said: "We are investigating following a report of criminal damage and a public order incident at a premise in Rayleigh Road, Leigh, that occurred on the morning of Thursday February 18.

"Both parties have contacted the police.

"Our investigation is continuing."

If you witnessed the Greggs incident, which happened at 10.40am on January 19, call 101 and quote 42/9935/21.