'We do not condone discrimination' an Isle of Wight nightclub has said, after a teenager with ADHD was drug searched and asked to prove he had the disorder, by security, on a night out.
Bradley Murray, from Cowes, said he felt 'upset' and like he was being 'singled out' by staff because of his involuntary tics.
Fever & Boutique, Newport, said it is 'required to make decisions to ensure the safety of guests and our team', but added it will be contacting Bradley.
The 19-year-old was celebrating with friends who had, on Thursday (17), received their A-Level results.
He told the County Press they were all in the smoking area, at the front of the club, when a member of the security staff asked to search him for drugs.
"I was happy to. It is a pretty standard procedure and I didn't have anything on me so I didn't really care", he said.
"I just assumed it was random."
He said he took off his belt, shoes and jacket at the request of security, who also checked his pupils to see whether they were dilated.
No drugs were found on Bradley.
Bradley said the member of security then asked him why he seemed as though he was on drugs, due to his social expressions.
"I explained I had ADHD and I have quite bad involuntary tics", he said.
"I'm not currently on medication as I'm not in school so I don't need it.
"When I'm on medication it sort of controls the tics more."
Bradley said the security guard then asked if he had proof of his ADHD.
"I don't just carry around proof that I have ADHD. I've never needed to", he said.
He was told to wait outside, he said, and Bradley and his friends left shortly after.
He said it was not until the next morning, when speaking to his mum, that he realised his treatment was "unacceptable".
He told the County Press he has chosen to speak out to ensure it does not happen again, to either him or anyone else with a disability.
Bradley said: "It upset me. It really did. I have struggled with it for a lot of my life and people have made fun of it.
"I thought I was past being treated differently because of that. Clearly not."
A spokesperson for Stonegate Group, which runs Fever, said: “We do not condone any form of discrimination in our venue.
"Fever is a venue for everyone to enjoy and we always want our guests to have a great experience.
"As responsible operator of a late night venue we are required to make decisions to ensure the safety of guests and our team, and whilst we are unable to comment on this specific case, we in are contact with the guest to discuss their concerns”.
Bradley told the County Press he has had an apology from security, but at the time of press, he had yet to hear from the nightclub.
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