iPhone 5 purchased back in March 2016, staff member brings it to me recently to show that the screen has gone all funny and wont accept any touch on one half.

So off to the local Apple authorized dealer he goes with the phone......

This is their response :

"Device looks to have been fitted with non-
Apple parts. Device also has Third Party repair stickers. Due to device having
third party repairs device is no longer eligible for service via an authorised
service provider under Apple warranty or outside of Apple
warranty. Claiming a repair under consumer law requires the product to have
all OEM parts fitted."

WTF..... it was a brand new phone - I dont understand (and nor can the staff member) how it can have no OEM parts AND a 3rd party repair sticker.

Only thing I can think of, is that it was repaired by a 3rd party, then somehow returned to Apple who repackaged it and it ended up in the stores again......