Police praise 'honest' refugee

Mr Maleti found £200 sticking out of a cash machine

A Tyneside asylum seeker has been hailed one of the most honest men in Britain, after he found £200 - and handed it in.

Kosovan refugee Viktor Maleti found the wad of £10 notes sticking out of a cash machine in Newcastle.

But he did not think twice about handing it straight in to police, who were able to reunite the money with its rightful owner.

His honesty has been praised by police, who awarded him a letter of commendation - an honour usually reserved for officers.

'Kind people'

Mr Maleti, 37, a supermarket shelf-stacker, shrugged off his good deed and said: "I am just so happy that it has been returned to its owner.

"I came to England and everyone has tried to help me.

"I will never forget people's kindness and this was a chance for me to give something back."

Mr Maleti made the discovery in Newcastle's West End, near his home in Nuns Moor Road, Fenham, and immediately handed the cash in at the local police station.

'Incredibly grateful'

It had been left by Lynne Spoor, 28, of Westmorland Road, Rye Hill, Newcastle, who thought the machine had refused to issue her any cash.

She said: "I was so lucky to get it back.

"Nobody would have returned it normally. I really am incredibly grateful."

Inspector Cameron Mann of Northumbria Police said: "Most people would have walked off with the money, but Mr Maleti has acted with the utmost integrity."