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Daily Record
Daily Record
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Christian Brayford & Chloe Burrell

Kind stranger helped mum pay for fuel after card was declined for £30 fee

A kind man who helped a young mum to pay for her fuel when she had difficulties with her bank card states that he would do it again to help another stranger.

Paul Martin, 60, was about to pay for his fuel when he noticed Molly Mae, 22, weeping after her card was declined for £30 worth of fuel. He remembers going in to wash his car on February 15 at 11:30am.

The situation at the Jet Garage in Grimsby had overwhelmed Mollie to the point where she felt embarrassed and she had her son Arthur with her too, Grimsby Live writes.

However, Paul feels that people in Grimsby should look out for their own.

He said: "I went into the Jet to wash my car. Unfortunately, I didn't have any change for the car wash so I walked round to the shop when I saw that the girl had already put fuel in.

"I went inside to get two cans of pop when I heard the cashier say 'well you will have to leave your phone here then'. I knew straight away that she couldn't pay for her fuel.

Mollie went to the Jet garage on Grimsby Road when a stranger paid for her fuel in an act of kindness (Grimsby Live/Donna Clifford)

"She gave the cashier her phone and then went outside to the cash machine. I went and paid for my drinks whilst I saw her outside looking so upset.

"I had to pass the girl on my way out the store when I heard her little boy say 'are we in trouble mummy?' It really struck a chord with me when he said that so I had to help her."

Paul, who was born on Stanley Street, then asked the young girl if she could pay for the fuel. Paul says she just had 'tears in' her eyes.

He said: "She said no as there had been an issue with her card. I took her inside and asked the cashier to give her phone back as I wanted to pay for her fuel.

"He slipped the phone across and returned it to her. The girl kept saying sorry and all that which was understandable.

"I said to her 'don't worry about it as it's happened to us all'. I know we've all had hard times in our lives and I certainly have.

"I even bought the young lad a chocolate bar."

The petrol tank driver says that he doesn't want to be considered a hero because he was only doing 'what any other person should do' in that situation. And he wants others to pass it forward.

He said: "I sort of cleared off because I didn't want to embarrass the poor lass. But then someone had shown me a post online from a girl who wanted to say thank you which is very sweet.

"I said it was me but I don't want to be a hero. I'm a firm believer in anything can happen to anyone.

"If that happened to my daughter's, I would hope someone would help them out. I hope people pay that forward.

"People from the East Marsh may get a bad reputation, but we always stick together. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

"I know the girl was grateful and I would rather keep it at that. If the young girl sees someone struggling, I hope she would help them out in the future."

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