A blind marathon runner felt like a ‘third class citizen’ after being turned away from a restaurant because he was with his guide dog.
Charity champion Dave Heeley, known by pals as ‘Blind Dave’, had gone with his family for a meal at Prezzo in New Square shopping centre, West Bromwich.
But when the 57-year-old got inside, a waitress told him he would not be allowed to eat, because he has a dog.
Despite pointing out that this was indeed his guide dog, five-year-old German Shepherd Seamus, the waitress, and subsequently her manager, were adamant that he couldn’t eat there.
Dave, from West Bromwich, said: ‘It was humiliating.
‘We were left stood inside the door for 10 minutes – I felt like a third class citizen.
‘I have eaten in there quite a lot so I was shocked at first.
‘My wife pointed out they were wrong, and Grace even got the law up on her phone.’
Dave, who became the first blind man to run seven marathons on seven continents in 2008, went to the Italian chain with Deb, Grace and his other two daughters, Georgie-Lee, 13, Dannie, 12, and his mum, Anne.
‘We went to a restaurant next door and they were extremely accommodating – they even gave Seamus a bowl of water.
‘All I hope is that after I’ve gone through that, Prezzo change their policy towards people who are blind or have disabilities.’
