Man banned from buying food for homeless in Doncaster McDonalds

A good samaritan claims he was refused service when trying to buy food for a homeless man in McDonalds.
McDonalds, Sandford Road, Balby. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP McDonalds MC 2McDonalds, Sandford Road, Balby. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP McDonalds MC 2
McDonalds, Sandford Road, Balby. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP McDonalds MC 2

John Papworth, of Woodfield Plantation, Balby, attempted to buy a meal for the man at popular fast-food restaurant McDonald’s, on Sanford Road, Balby, on Saturday evening at around 8pm.

However, he was shocked when he was refused service - because staff said the homeless man was barred.

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Mr Papworth said: “I’d ordered my food from the drive-through and was waiting for it when this bloke came up to the car window and asked me for £1. All he wanted was a hot chocolate, but I offered to take him inside and buy him some food.

“I asked him what he wanted and he said he’d like some chicken nuggets. When we got to the counter I told the girl my order and she told me he was barred.

“I said that I wanted to buy the food and she repeated that she still couldn’t serve me because he was barred. Nobody made any attempt to explain to me why this was the case.

“I was embarrassed that they had refused me service and the man was very apologetic to me. He seemed to think that the problem may have been because he’d already been asking other people outside for £1. I gave him a fiver to go elsewhere.”

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The 45-year-old added that he will now be boycotting all McDonald’s stores in light of the incident.

“I have been visiting this McDonalds since I moved in to the area about five years ago. I take my child there to get happy meals, but I won’t be anymore.

“The issue that they have with this man is nothing to do with me, it’s not my problem. They have no right to refuse to serve me and stop me from getting this man some food.

“It was the first time I’ve done anything like this. It’s so frustrating when you are trying to help people and then people stop you.

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“It was very cold that night, and it was teaming it down with rain. You wouldn’t have put your dog out in it, let alone a man who was homeless. Hot food would have at least give him some warmth. I am annoyed.”

A McDonald’s spokesman said that there was no ban on customers buying food on behalf of others: “We apologise to Mr Papworth for any concerns or confusion caused during his visit.

“The individual he was with, is banned from the restaurant, due to ongoing antisocial behaviour problems. There is no ban on anyone buying food on behalf of this (or any other) individual.”