A Basingstoke employer has hit back at claims he is exploiting a member of staff.
Kevin Allwright, 40, from Hatch Warren, runs Trade Windows And Doors based in Daneshill.
He said that over the past week he has received a number of abusive complaints about his marketing techniques.
He employs Richard Kidd, from Andover, to walk through parts of Basingstoke with a sandwich board.
Each day the 51-year-old walks a three-hour route along Wade Road, Chineham shopping centre and Rankin Road.
He also is in charge of telesales, leafleting and door-to-door canvasing for the company.
Since starting the scheme two months ago Mr Allwright said people had accused him of exploitation.
Mr Allwright said: “I can't believe the level of harassment that has been levelled at us. The complaints have been very aggressive and hurtful.
“Richard makes a good contribution to the company. This really needs to stop.”
None of the complainants could be contacted by the Observer at the time of going to press.
But one witness, Kris Donkin, who works at the Sizzle And Bite café in Daneshill, said she had witnessed some of the comments levelled at Mr Kidd.
She said: “Richard comes in every day for his lunch and yesterday I heard someone making nasty comments about him.
“He takes pride in what he does, I do not think for a moment that he is being exploited. He seems happy in what he does.”
And Mr Kidd said he could not be happier doing his job. Before being taken on he was out of work for 10 months.
He found the job through Job Centre Plus in Andover and works five days a week, 9am to 5pm.
He said: “Unfortunately both myself and the company have been on the receiving end of some verbal and near physical abuse. The main criticism is that I am being exploited. People have come up to me asking if I am doing this as a bet. One person was very abusive saying to my boss that I was an idiot and a simple person being exploited to wear the sandwich board.
“This could not be further from the truth. I am very happy with the position. I can now pay taxes and make a contribution to the community.”
Trade Windows And Doors said they would not report the complaints to the police.
