A homeless man has been given a fresh start by the owner of a business he used to beg across the road from.
Shezad Zaman, 29, used to pass Kriss Wilkes, 23, every day as he left work at his car wash until he realised it was up to him to help the man, the Birmingham Mail reports.
Mr Wilkes had become homeless after returning to Birmingham following his father's death, and tended to beg at traffic lights across the road from Mr Zaman's business.
Eventually Mr Zaman decided somebody needed to help Mr Wilkes and it may as well be him.
"I saw Kriss on the street right outside the garage when I used to finish work," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"He would be collecting money by the traffic lights and I said to him, 'you're a local lad, you don't need to be doing this, come and work for us instead'."
He arranged for Mr Wilkes to have a two week trial at the car wash and even offered him accommodation at his son's house as well.
Mr Wilkes shined in the trial and was eventually offered a part time role cleaning, restoring and finishing vehicles.
"I used to sit at some traffic lights on the Stratford Road in Birmingham and beg until one day when my gaffer, Shezad, came over and gave me a chance," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"He got me a room sorted and got me a job.
"He got me fresh clothes, trainers, shoes and basically I'm living alright and I've sorted myself out and I'm getting there."
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