Alan Fisher, 55, claims the chemical was squirted in his face by a member of staff at a restaurant in Sutton Coldfield – the restaurant says it’s investigating the allegations
A disabled man claims he was left in "unbelievable" pain after having table cleaner sprayed in his eyes during a row with restaurant staff.
Alan Fisher, 55, alleges that the chemical was squirted in his face by a worker at Toby Carvery in Sutton Coldfield.
Police and the restaurant chain are investigating, Birmingham Live reports.
Mr Fisher, who suffers from diabetes and osteo-arthritis and walks with sticks, said he needed hospital treatment as a result.
He claims a row over seating arrangements escalated after he complained his dinner was cold.
The customer says what should have been a pleasant meal with his neighbour, Amy Hunt, ended in humiliation and pain.
“We found three tables together, covered in rubbish, so I cleared one of them and we sat down,” he said.
“But someone came over and told us the tables were reserved. I told him ‘How can they be, they haven’t been cleared yet?’"
He refused to budge, and later complained about a shortage of cutlery and bemoaned the temperature of his main course.
“They told me the plate was hot,” he claimed.
“If they’d said I could go back to the carvery, there would not have been a problem, I would’ve gone home a happy customer.
"The wait for a knife and fork was bad enough, but when I complained my meal was cold, I was told ‘Your plate was warm, you’ve eaten most of the food on it and you can get out’.”
Alan claims he was sprayed with the cleaning fluid while attempting to video the verbal exchange with a staff member.
"I’ve spoken to a senior manager later who said it was an accident,” he said.
“But I was nowhere near the table when it happened, I was near the bar.”
He further alleges one worker shouted “and a merry Christmas to you” as he was shown the door.
“The pain was unbelievable,” he added.
“My neighbour took me to hospital and my tear ducts are still inflamed.
“The way I’ve been treated is diabolical. I’ve been totally humiliated.”
A Toby Carvery spokesman said: “We do not condone any sort of aggressive or abusive behaviour made towards guests or staff at the restaurant.
“We are currently investigating this incident internally.”
The incident is alleged to have happened on the afternoon of Sunday December 23, at the carvery, known locally as the Parson and Clerk.
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