A thief robbed a blind man while he waited in line at a fast food restaurant in Epsom.

Royston Shearer, 44, from Swail House in Epsom, who has been blind since birth, was waiting to be served at the Epsom Grill in Waterloo Road when a man forcibly grabbed a £20 note from his hand at 3.30pm on Thursday, June 30.

As the thief left the restaurant he almost knocked over a woman on the pavement as he cycled off on his mountain bike.

Mr Shearer, who was at the fast food shop with another blind friend, said: “I felt the money being snatched.

“At first I thought it was the man behind the till.

“They think we are more of a target because we are blind.

“It’s disgusting.

“People should be free whatever age or disability to walk around town without these low lifes’s picking on them.

He added: “I’m not scared of walking around town.

“You mustn’t let these people make you a prisoner in your own home.”

Another diner, who was in the outlet at the time, described the man as white, slim and aged between 18 and 25.

He was wearing a black jumper and had been pushing a mountain bike at the time of the theft.

Detective constable Simon Evans said: “This is an appalling theft and I am sure the community will be shocked by the callous way the victim was targeted.

“We know the suspect was pushing a mountain bike along the road and leaned inside the fast-food shop solely to steal this gentleman’s money.

“He then rode off almost knocking over a pedestrian.

“I am keen to speak to anyone who was near Waterloo Road, Epsom, on Thursday, 30 June, at approximately 3.30pm, as your information, however small, could prove important.”

Anyone with information should contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.