A Sainsbury’s shop assistant has been dismissed after tackling a shoplifter hurling wine bottles. Gary MacArthur, who has worked for 15 years at a Sainsbury’s store in West Wickham, south-east London, was sacked for gross misconduct after two altercations with a known repeat shoplifter last December. He had initially physically escorted the man from the store because of his reputation for “aggressive” behaviour towards female staff. When the thief returned and started smashing bottles, Mr MacArthur restrained him, putting him to the floor and holding him until police arrived. Three months later, he was fired because his decision to remove the thief from the store had escalated the situation, leading to the aggressive response. In his dismissal letter, first revealed by LBC, Mr MacArthur was told that, despite the shoplifter throwing glass bottles at his colleagues, he should have merely acted as a “visual deterrent”. It is understood that, four months previously, Mr MacArthur had been given a written warning after challenging someone who attempted to steal goods from the store. Sainsbury’s said its guidance …