Homeless man lent shoes because ‘it’s decent thing to do’
ROUGH-SLEEPER GAVE FOOTWEAR TO DINER WHO FAILED RESTAURANT DRESS CODE WITH SANDALS
A KIND-HEARTED homeless man who lent a stranger his shoes so he could go to a fancy restaurant has told the M.E.N: “I did it because it’s the decent thing to do.”
Last week the M.E.N. reported how ‘John’ took off his own shoes and gave them to optician Akbar Badshah after his sandals were deemed inappropriate for an upmarket Brazilian restaurant in Manchester – where he was celebrating his wife’s birthday.
Now we have tracked down kindhearted ‘John’ – actually Jonathon Byles – who said: “It’s just what people should do.
“It’s not that hard to be a good person and just show healthy respect for other people. It costs nothing to do that. I did it because it’s the decent thing to do.”
He added: “It’s been a struggle at times. On a day-to-day basis the only way I can get by is begging. I sit on Deansgate so people see you.
“I don’t ask for nothing. I just sit there with the dog.” Jon, 38, revealed he only ended up sleeping rough because someone stole his passport leaving him unable to return to his native New Zealand, following a holiday.
He came to Manchester for what was supposed to be a two-week break on December 20 but his passport was snatched at a party, which meant he couldn’t get his plane home. When his money ran out in the middle of January he was forced to sleep rough. But now the dairy farmer, who also drives trucks and is licensed to operate heavy machinery in his home country, has been so taken by Manchester he is considering staying for good.
He said: “It feels like home in a way because people here have the same kind-hearted generosity as people in New Zealand.
“It feels like a home away from home. I’m in two minds really. I’m trying to get a National Insurance number so I can get into work.
“At the same time I’m thinking about getting back to New Zealand but a one-way ticket costs £1,300.”
The M.E.N reintroduced Jon and Akbar, and now Akbar plans to treat him to dinner at the same Spinningfields restaurant, Fazenda, next week. “Jon says he’s going to bring me a spare pair of shoes,” said Akbar.