Rich kid who says homeless are ‘weak’ gives OAP he met on streets amazing gift

Heir to a multi-million pound trust fund and a financial trader, Hanif has never had to worry about money.

The 21-year-old from Norfolk lives a gilded life filled with luxury, lavish clothes and everything he could imagine to make him comfortable.

He admits his passion is jewellery with "diamonds, rubies and gold, all the gold" his favourites.

His wardrobe is packed full of designer items, including Louis Vuitton top worth £2,500.

And a £33,500 blue Breitling watch sits on his wrist.

During his day job, Hanif is a currency commodities trader and admits "people have to lose a lot of money for me to make any".

But he's swapping the trappings of his loaded lifestyle to spend three nights on the streets for 5Star show, Rich Kid Goes Homeless.

And Hanif, who will be spending his time in Cameden, which has the third largest homeless population in England, has some very firm views when it comes to people who live roof.

The loaded lad said: "Homeless people are lazy and weak, I think they've given up on life.

"If people have been brought up in the right way or in the right environment and they're well educated, they're less likely to stay on he streets."

Not only that but he has a plan to get off the streets as quickly as possible.

Hanif plans to offer his services to the nearest Greggs, cleaning the toilets, and plans to be fed in steak bakes.

He then aims to get work in something "low skilled" like a labourer so he can afford a bed.

Hanif said: "I will show how easy it is to get off the streets and that you can find a job if you want to."

Even Hanif's girlfriend fears he has taken on more than he can chew.

And taking to the streets in the middle of winter comes as a shock to the young trader, who isn't use to living in anything but luxury.

His first priority is to get something to eat, not easy when you don't have any money.

Despite insisting he will not beg for money, Hanif doesn't have a problem heading to the nearest chicken shop, explaining he's just been made homeless and asking for free food.

It pays off and he's given his dinner for nothing.

But then he faces the problem of where he will sleep for the night.

Hanif decides to approach other rough sleepers but they're instantly suspicious of his clean clothes and don't believe his story.

He eventually finds somewhere to bed down for the night, close to a pub, and the conditions shock the loaded 21-year-old.

Hanif says: "I feel incredibly vulnerable, this is my house and everyone can come in, it's a horrible feeling.

"There's also a really strong smell of urine, it's very unpleasant and it's putting me off the chips."

The next morning his plan to find work is derailed almost as soon as he wakes up.

After a terrible night's sleep with just a piece of cardboard between him and the freezing floor and his sleeping bag to rely on for warmth, Hanif's first thought is for food.

Once again, despite vowing not to beg, he pleads for some free pizza – although it's not quite to his liking.

Hanif said: "I'm not a big fan of pizza and last time I was eating it in London it was covered in truffles and I wasn't eating it with my hands."

His luck seems to be changing as a fellow rough sleeper shows him where he can have a shower and get free tea and coffee.

But there's a problem. The homeless man Hanif had a confrontation with last night has told other rough sleepers if he sees him, he will stab him.

It's a terrifying reality check for the young trader.

He says: "I felt very unsafe and it's a very strange feeling because these peple have nothing to lose.

"I will approach people with a lot more caution. It's just starting to dawn on me that the streets aren't a safe place."

But for those whose life is spent on the streets, violence is part of their daily risks.

Three out of 10 rough sleepers have been attacked while homeless are 150 times more likely to be murdered.

Hanif decides to waste no more time and vows to make his way to King's Cross in search of work.

But with no money to pay for a taxi it takes him half a day to make his way their on foot and he is unable to find a job.

Faced with another night on the freezing streets, Hanif finds a soup kitchen, where he is given a huge portion of pasta.

Proving life on the streets is already changing him, when Hanif is unable to finish his meal he hands it to another rough sleeper, and is stunned to be told she had previously worked as an electrical engineer.

Hanif says: "It's crazy to think that a skilled worker has found herself on the streets.

"It definitely goes against everything I have been thinking that if you have a good education you have a good chance of getting off the streets."

With no choice but to bed down for the night, Hanif manages to catch a few hours sleep in the minus four temperatures before he forced to get up and walk around just to keep warm.

He admits he's now finding life on the streets has "almost broken me".

Hanif adds: "I've been on the streets for two days and I'm missing my friends and family and the level of power I had in society. The streets are horrible.

"No one is ever rude to me in normal life but on the streets if someone doesn't like you they will threaten to stab you.

"Physically I'm OK but mentally I'm starting to crack. I feel I've bitten off more than I can chew."

Giving up on his plan to find a job and get himself somewhere to sleep, Hanif is determined to make the most of his time living rough.

He meets up with George W Singleton, an academic who has written four books and who chooses to live on the streets.

George has been sleeping rough for 40 years and after chatting to Hanif invites him to his campsite, where he invites him to spend his final night as a homeless man.

Hanif is almost moved to tears when George offers him his own tent, donated to him, complete with a ground mat and extra duvet.

And when the 70-year-old shows Hanif how he makes his money by collecting old tin cans he realises how wrong he has been to judge rough sleepers as weak.

But George has run into a problem.

The cart he uses to take his cans to the recycling centre, where he's paid 50p a kilo, has broken, which makes his only way of earning money back-breaking work.

Hanif and his new friend set off for the Hare Krishna soup kitchen, where they're served vegan curry and George asks an important question – "would you say a person with no money is really worthless?"

The rich kid is stumped – and his whole world is turned upside down when he makes an important realisation.

Hanif says: "I would say you are one of the richest people I have ever met and you have more substance than most of the people I interact with on a daily basis.

"I meet people in Gucci suits and they are just an empty suit. It's making me realise a lot about the value of money."

After a few hours clearing the canal close to George's home of litter, something he does voluntarily, the pensioner has a special treat for Hanif.

He is treating him to dinner at one of London's restaurants.

George buys a single bowel of burritto and gives Hanif one of the tins of beans he's been saving to bulk it up in a tearjerking gesture.

Hanif is overwhelmed by the generosity.

After a good night's sleep in George's guest tent, it's time for Hanif to head back to the real world.

But his experience of living roof has completely changed him.

He said: "I said the homeless were lazy and didn't want to get off the streets but that couldn't be further away from he reality.

"George is a man who adds more to his community than people living in houses. The preconceived notion I had was completely wrong."

And Hanif is determined to mke a difference to George's life and buys him the £30 new cart he so desperately needs to help him earn money.

Not only that, the young trader is now determined to donate all he can to the Hare Krishna soup kitchen, which proved a lifeline when he was sleeping rough.

• Rich Kids Go Skint is on 5Star every Wednesday at 9pm.

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