A terminally ill, disabled young man from Sidcup was “devastated and distraught” when he was refused a table in his favourite café, because he is in a wheelchair.

Harry Smith, 20, suffers from Duchene muscular dystrophy and was enjoying a rare day out last Monday when his two carers were told they could not come in for lunch, despite there being a table available.

Staff at Caffe Cino’s, in Steynton Road near Albany Park station, said the space was unsuitable for Harry’s chair and asked him to wait outside until another one became available – or return after 1pm, when the 12-seat restaurant would be less busy.

Bromley College special needs pupil Harry also suffers from autism, and according to mum Caroline Cowan he could not understand why he was being turned away.

Miss Cowan, 41, said: “Harry is quite sensitive, but he does have learning difficulties.

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“When he came back he was very distraught, because he kept saying he has done something wrong.

“It’s quite heart-breaking because he is blaming himself.

“If he wants to go out and get something to eat and drink, for Harry’s that a big thing. He is in and out of hospital all the time.

“They know Harry very well in there. He is absolutely devastated, and because he has got the autism his understanding isn’t as good.

“I am really annoyed just because he is in a wheelchair he can’t go in. It’s wrong.”

Miss Cowan, who lives in Diana Close with Harry’s dad and three of their four kids, added: “Usually most people are accommodating with Harry and his wheelchair.

“He keeps saying ‘I will go later in the day’, but I don’t want him to go in there because of the way he has been treated.

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“They said ‘if there is a fire, someone could trip over the wheelchair’.

“Well you can say the same thing about a pram. I think it’s discrimination.

“No one likes to be singled out, especially when they have quite clearly got problems.

“We have never ever had that in a restaurant. There was room in there at the time.

“Harry has got breathing problems and it was freezing. I do not think it’s acceptable to ask him to wait outside.”

Mus Emin, who owns Caffe Cino’s, said the carers were only asked to wait outside for 10 minutes before leaving of their own accord, and that it would not have been safe for Harry to come inside the small establishment.

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He added: “I know Harry, I look after him.

“It’s not discrimination, I have got no problem with him coming into the caf but there is no access at that table.

“It was during the school holidays. It was only because I was busy. I only did it because of the room.

“If I was that much of a bad person, why would they still buy a hot chocolate off me and wait outside?”

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe muscle-wasting condition, and few sufferers live to see their 30th birthday.