Mother shocked after shop worker smacks 'naughty' toddler The next thing I know, the woman who had helping us look for soya milk smacked her and told her she was a naughty girl. She just froze on the spot after she was slapped - it was hard enough to shunt her forward into the display. She added: "Lora was just being a typical three-year-old girl and it certainly wasn't her place to discipline my child. I didn't believe what I saw and just said that I would pay for anything that was broken and left. I just walked out, I couldn't believe what had happened. On the way home she said 'Mummy, that woman smacked my bottom'. When I got home I asked everyone what to do and they said I should go back and speak to the woman privately to find out why she felt she could smack my daughter. However, Miss Cropley said she was stunned when she went to complain about the incident that took place on February 13 at the Market Hall branch in Spalding, Lincolnshire, and was told by the manager: "It was only a tap." "After being left waiting for 20 minutes, the manager came over and spoke to me," said the mother. I told him what happened and he said he would get back to me in a few days. Later he phoned saying the staff member said it was a tap not a smack and he wouldn't be taking it any further. I said, 'I don't care what she called what she did, I never gave her permission to lay a hand on my daughter.' She added: "From the moment I met the manager, he treated me like I was after some financial reward, when all I wanted was an apology." Miss Cropley said she went to the police about the incident, but was told that it couldn't be classed as common assault because it didn't leave a mark. Boots has since apologised to the mother, saying: "Our customers are of the utmost importance to us and we pride ourselves on providing great customer service. As soon as we found out about this incident, we conducted a thorough investigation and reported it through the correct procedures. We have reminded our colleagues of the high level of customer service that we have become well known for. We would like to apologise for any distress caused to Angela Cropley and her daughter.