A homeless man who was given a job and home by a businessman who passed him every day is back on the streets after just one month.
Kriss Wilkes, 23, made headlines in January when he was given a ‘fresh start’ by garage owner Shezad Zaman.
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Shezad offered him a position at his car wash business in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, as well as accommodation.
But Kriss claims he has been forced to leave his job at DAC Car Wash following a dispute – and has been back begging on the streets for the past two weeks.
He is also now back to sleeping in shop doorways after losing his accommodation.
Kriss claimed he was forced to leave the company after ‘disputes’ with the firm, including a disagreement over his wages.
Shezad confirmed Kriss had left the company and claimed a complaint had been received about him from other staff members.
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Kriss, who can be seen regularly begging on Moseley Road, said: ‘I just want to work and earn a decent living and now I’m back to square one.’
The story of Shezad helping the young homeless man warmed the hearts of people across the country last month.
The businessman gave him a part-time job cleaning and helping restore vehicles after passing him every day while he begged for money in Sparkbrook.
Shezad said at the time: ‘I saw Kriss on the street right outside the garage when I used to finish work.
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‘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 came in for a two-week trial and worked hard and showed me he was capable of doing what we do. He now works part-time and I have found him a room in one of my son’s houses.
‘Kriss has had a lot of setbacks but I wanted to give him a chance to make something of his life. He’s happy and enjoying working with us.’
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But Kriss has since spoken of his despair at being back on the streets.
Kriss said: ‘Do people think I want to be living off hand outs? People offer me money but I don’t want it. I don’t want to buy drugs and I am not on drugs, I just want to be warm and safe and earn an honest living.
‘I hate the fact that I am now back to sleeping anywhere I can find a shelter and begging people for food. This is not how I want to live my life.’
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