Taking his daughters for a pizza.

When 43-year-old Paul Wrightson decided to take his two mixed-race daughters out for a pizza he had no idea it would cause him and his family such embarrassment.

Paul has been married to Sherlinda his Asian wife for 19 years and they have three mixed-race daughters, Sita, 18, Asha, 15, and Sonia, 13.

Whilst his wife was busy helping out a friend Paul decided to take his two youngest daughters out for a treat to the local Pizza Hut in Bingley, West Yorkshire.

Paul had just finished his pizza when he noticed two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) enter the restaurant. He joked with his daughters that the officers were probably coming in for their tea. To his surprise the two officers walked up to Paul and asked him to accompany them outside.

'One officer stayed in the restaurant with the girls and the other explained that a member of the public had seen a white man with two Asian girls acting suspiciously,' he said. The officer asked Paul if he could prove he was their father and he explained that he didn't have any sort of documentation because he had met his girls after work to get some dinner.

The PCSO told Paul it looked strange a white man being with two Asian girls. In the meantime a female PCSO asked Asha and Sonia who Mr Wrightson was and they also explained that he was their dad. Asha also told the officer that she was embarrassing them and that the whole restaurant was looking at them.

Paul was eventually able to go back to his daughters who were visibly upset by the questions that the officer had been asking. 'Is it getting to the stage where I can't go out with my own daughters?' asked Paul.

Paul's wife Sherlinda, says that her daughters and her husband were all very upset by the incident and in particular the way that the officers handled the situation.

'I was devastated when Paul told me what happened. I've never come across anything like it my life. I was beside myself and one of my daughters had trouble sleeping that night,' she said.

Paul has received an apology from an Inspector and Sergeant at Bingley Police Station and he hopes that this does not happen to another family.

'I shouldn't have to explain to anyone who I am when I have done nothing wrong expect take my daughters out for a meal. This may have been the first time that this has happened but does that mean it is going to be the last?'

Sherlinda said that she hoped the police would be more sensitive in the future.

'They should be more open- minded, I mean we are living in a multi-cultural society. When I married Paul it was in more difficult times. I expect people to more open-minded now.'

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: 'We responded to a report made in good faith by a concerned member of the public. We apologise for any inconvenience or embarrassment that was caused.'

Have you ever had such a moment?
If so we'd like to hear about it. click here to vist the forums and tell us your story:

View this months news:

View other news:

Source:ThisisBradford.co.uk