A worker at Noodle Alley on Faulkner Street in Manchester city centre was attacked by a customer who left without paying a £30 bill on Sunday 27 September at 17:30 BST.
The 28-year-old female staff member was pushed to the ground when she and a colleague tried to confront one of three customers who had fled the restaurant. She sustained bruises on her right arm and was left in tears.
How the incident happened
The staff member and her colleague spotted one of the men walking around a street corner near the shop. When they approached to try to talk him back to the restaurant, the man called over someone he knew.
"Now it was two-verses-two and he pushed me to ground, and then the other person told the man to go," the worker said.
She called 999 after the assault and was advised to attend A&E. The three customers' order had included a cucumber salad.
Restaurant's response
Noodle Alley's owners Kenneth Chen and Wendy Chen, who opened the venue in May 2023, posted CCTV footage of the incident on Facebook. Kenneth Chen said the decision to publicise the footage was made because similar dine-and-dash incidents happen at many restaurants and his staff member was simply trying to do her job.
"As a small, independent, family business there comes a risk with putting out names in the spotlight," he said. "I know there can be consequences for us, but we are already feeling the financial and emotional impact of what happened and so I felt like we couldn't just stay quiet."
Police investigation
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they are investigating an alleged assault at the premises. Officers released a photo of one of the men they want to speak to, saying "we believe he can help with our investigation".
