Asda withdraws T-shirt from stores

Asda has removed a controversial T-shirt from its shops after shoppers claimed it encouraged rape.

The shirt showed pictures of women raising glasses and the slogan, 'If at first you don't succeed, buy her another beer'.

Rape Crisis Scotland wrote to the supermarket in an attempt to ban the £4 shirt after protests by anti-violence campaigner Louise Robertson, who works for women's support group Women's Aid.

An Asda spokesman apologised to anyone who had been offended by the slogan but added that there had been less than ten complaints.

He said: "Even though we have had less than ten complaints we have decided to withdraw this particular T-shirt. Naturally we are sorry that anyone found the T-shirt offensive."

About 15,000 of the shirts have been sold since they went on sale as part of Asda's comedy range.

A spokeswoman for Rape Crisis Scotland said: "The T-shirt's logo represents part of a culture that objectifies women and lays them open to predatory men.

"The rape conviction rate is currently at 3.9 per cent, which is an all-time low.

"This is not to be taken lightly, and a large corporation like Asda should take it very seriously."

When Ms Robertson first complained about the T-shirts, Asda said the shirts were fun and would not be recalled.

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