McDonald's stops man buying food for homeless woman

Anil Barber tried to buy a cheeseburger and a cup of tea for a homeless woman. Photo / Getty

A man who wanted to buy a cheeseburger and a cup of tea for a young homeless woman says he was refused by McDonald's staff.

Anil Barber, 38, of Bolton in the UK, said he took pity on a young woman outside the restaurant who he described as sitting in sodden clothes shivering.

"I asked her if she wanted anything and she asked me to buy her a cup of tea. It was the least I could do for her," he told The Bolton News.

While he'd already ordered his own meal, Barber returned to the counter to buy a cheeseburger and tea for the woman.

"I was told by the manager that I wasn't allowed to buy her anything as she's homeless and I was encouraging her to beg."

Barber said he was "outraged" and left some money for the woman. "For them to refuse to serve me is beyond belief.

"In that situation it is the only thing to do, I wanted to help her but they wouldn't serve me."

A McDonald's spokesperson said: "There is no policy of banning homeless people at McDonald's.

"The circumstances surrounding this individual's ban have no link to her being homeless and our restaurant team acted in the interests of the safety of our customers and employees.

"We apologise if this was not made clear at the time."

- nzherald.co.nz