A pensioner who was thrown out of a shop after facial recognition technology wrongly identified him as a thief said he felt “helpless” and “physically sick” after the ordeal. Ian Clayton, 67, a grandfather from Chester, was told to leave his local Home Bargains after the security technology Facewatch incorrectly linked him to a previous theft. Mr Clayton said he was subsequently told to leave the store by staff members in front of a group of other shoppers, an incident that left him feeling “helpless”.

“I thought I was going to be sick. “That feeling didn’t go away all day and it didn’t go away the next day.” Facial recognition technology is used by a number of major UK retailers, including Sports Direct, Asda and Sainsbury’s, as well as Home Bargains.

The 67-year-old told the BBC: “I’ve got a perfectly clean record – always have. I pride myself in that.

“I’m not a shoplifter and I really resent being targeted as one and having my face on a system that I can’t even have removed.”

He contacted Facewatch after being ejected from the store and was sent a photo of himself alongside claims that he had put several items into a bag and stolen them.

A spokesperson for the company said Mr Clayton should not have been on the system and confirmed that his image and the “associated record” had been permanently removed.

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They added that Home Bargains “has now completed a full review of the incident” and took accuracy complaints extremely seriously, acting promptly when something did not meet the required standards.

A spokesperson for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology said: “No one should be wrongly identified and accused due to errors in facial recognition systems.

“We will continue to work closely with the Information Commissioner’s office to ensure regulations remain effective.”

The Express has contacted Home Bargains for comment.