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A "homeless" man who was bought a free breakfast by a customer was removed by security staff for "violation of a code of conduct".

Neha Gill, 22, of Wollaton, had visited the McDonald's at the intu Victoria Centre to buy breakfast on November 16.

She was asked by a man who had come into the restaurant if he could have her free coffee that came from a collectible sticker for buying six of them.

Neha believed the man to be homeless and wanted to help.

She gave him the free coffee and also bought him £7 of breakfast.

But after she did this, intu security staff told him to leave the restaurant.

Neha told Nottinghamshire Live that staff had tried to discourage her from buying the breakfast, stating that they were trying to discourage “these sort of people” from coming in as it makes other people uncomfortable who are eating in the restaurant.

(Image: Nottingham Post)

McDonald's said there is no policy in place which would restrict service to homeless people and that the man's behaviour was "in violation of the shopping centre’s visitor code of conduct."

When the man was told to leave by security, Neha said he should be allowed to wait while he ate.

This led to backlash from members of the public which caused her to get upset and leave the restaurant crying.

"I was just left really upset by it all," the student added.

"I just wanted to help him. He looked like he was homeless. I am asking where are people's humanity?

"They told me they wanted to stop 'these sort of people' from coming in and asking for food.

"It left me upset that people were having a go at me for it and standing my ground.

"Their argument was they have a duty of care to their customers. He was not causing any trouble.

"He could have been the richest man in the world for all I knew, I still wanted to buy him his breakfast."

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: " We welcome all customers into our restaurants and there is no policy in place which would restrict service to homeless people.

"On this occasion, the man in question was escorted from the premises by intu security because his behaviour was in violation of the shopping centre’s visitor code of conduct.

“The McDonald’s team in Nottingham are proud of the work they’ve done to help support homeless in the city, in partnership with the local police, BID and Framework Housing Association over the past ten years.

"Our door is always open to our customers and we would welcome the opportunity to offer reassurance around the inclusive nature of our business, and our role as a good neighbour to the city of Nottingham."

Nigel Wheatley, centre director for intu Victoria Centre said: “We were asked by McDonald’s staff to attend their restaurant because a man was allegedly begging inside. Our security team spoke to the gentleman and reminded him that we don’t allow begging in the centre, and he left with his breakfast.”

“Situations like this are very rare but we always try to handle them professionally and with courtesy.”