'Wow, people do care!' Homeless 20-year-old thanks Starbucks customer, 14, who bought him a sandwich after ignoring the advice of cold-hearted barista who told her: 'Save your money and let nature take its course' (6 Pics)

A HOMELESS man given a sandwich by a caring schoolgirl despite a Starbucks barista telling her to "let nature take its course" has today thanked the 14-year-old.

Liam Anderson, 20, from the Pollok area of Glasgow, said he was extremely grateful to Amy McIlroy for the food but "shocked" by the attitude of the staff member at the cafe.

Liam Anderson, 20,from the Pollok area of Glasgow, said he felt 'very thankful' to

Amy McIlroy for the food but 'shocked' by the attitude of the staff member at the cafe in Exchange Place 

He told  the MailOnline: "When the girl bought me a Starbucks, it was quite overwhelming, to be honest. I thought, 'Wow, people do care!'"

"I was quite dirty and other customers get to go in no matter their circumstances. It's unfair that I've been discriminated by the way I look."

Amy earlier said she was "disgusted" when the cafe worker made the callous remark after spotting the young girl hand over the sandwich to Liam outside the Starbucks in Exchange Place, Glasgow.

Amy, from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, tweeted: "So fkn disgusted.@StarbucksUK went in to one of your Glasgow branches to get some food for a 16-year-old homeless boy who was physically shaking from the cold and was told off a worker that I’d be better ‘saving my money and letting nature take its course’.

Undaunted, Amy went ahead and bought the sandwich to give to the boy, and complained to the coffee giant on Twitter

"I’m at a loss for words."

Speaking after the incident, Amy added: "I was really taken aback when the barista said what he said because I've never experienced that type of hatred or ignorance towards a stranger who hasn't done anything to merit such vile behaviour."

The young woman thought Liam was 16 or 17.

She said: "My friend was with me at the time and she was saying that the barista was not worth responding to but I told him that it was a disgusting thing to say and that I hoped he didn't speak for Glasgow.

"There are a million circumstances that could lead to someone becoming homeless. Starbucks should be held accountable for clearly not training their staff well enough in customer service."

The coffee chain is now "urgently investigating" Amy's claims.

Amy's mum, Liz, 52, said: “She’s very soft-hearted and has never had that boy out of her head since.

“I’m proud of her. She’s that sort of person who is always thinking of others.”

There has been mounting concern for the plight of the homeless during the spells of extreme cold weather this month.

A homeless veteran died in Edinburgh a week before Christmas while sleeping rough.

Darren Greenfield, 47, who sat at the top of the Waverley Steps on Princes Street, died after he was admitted to hospital.

A spokeswoman for Starbucks UK said today: "We’re urgently investigating what has happened here and have been in touch with the customer directly to apologise.

"We believe in creating a place that is welcoming for all and we are disappointed that this incident does not represent the values we expect in our stores.”

Starbucks vowed to 'fully investigate' the incident and said they had contacted Amy directly to apologise