The manager of a Dover Christian shop and cafe has spoken of the moment a homeless man head-butted her husband over a loaf of bread.

Ann Walton, 75, has run The Weigh Inn in Worthington Street with husband George, 77, since 2002.

Last month Mrs Walton witnessed a homeless man, aged 40, and originally from Belgium, steal a loaf of bread from her shop window.

He casually strolled down the road before finding a quiet place to stand and eat it. The incident happened about 11.30 in the morning.

Mr Walton, who was already on his way out, saw the man and told him if he had asked they would have fed him for nothing.

She said: “George told the man that he had stolen the loaf to which the man replied that he was hungry.

'The man became very agitated and George was persisting in telling him that you don’t just take stuff.' - Mrs Walton

“The man became very agitated and George was persisting in telling him that you don’t just take stuff.”

It was then the man became aggressive, injuring Mr Walton’s arm and then head-butting him.

Onlookers then intervened, restraining the man until the police arrived.

Mrs Walton said: “The paramedics had been called to check George out and he was taken to minor injuries at Buckland because they thought the injury on his arm could be a bite.

“Thank God that this was not the case.”

That night the Waltons received a phone call from the police, where they claim the man told officers he hated the English because no one would employ him.

He was supposedly on his way back to Belgium.

A police spokesman said: "A 40-year-old man from Belgium was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and assault following an incident in York Street, Dover, on August 10.

"After being interviewed by officers a Community Resolution outcome was agreed by both victims and the the offender.

"A Community Resolution is any action that is requested by a victim, is agreed by the offender and is considered appropriate and proportionate by the officer."