A homeowner was disgusted when a takeaway delivery driver ripped a Christian cross from her front door and threw it on the floor as he delivered her curry.
Sickened Georgia Savva has reported the vandalism as an anti-religious hate crime and says she will not let the matter go.
Churchgoer Georgia noticed the Palm Sunday cross that had been on display by her front door for years had been torn into pieces and left scattered on her doormat when she left for work on Tuesday.
Surprised, as it had been there so long, she asked her two teenage children to check the family’s CCTV security system to see what had happened.
Ms Savva was stunned to find that the culprit responsible for destroying the cross was her local takeaway’s delivery driver
They were stunned to find their local takeaway house’s delivery driver had ripped the cross from the wall before throwing it to the ground.
Bizarrely, just seconds later the video shows the door opening and Ms Savva’s teenage son handing the worker cash for the takeaway – including a generous tip.
Last night, the 48-year-old finance worker, who is Greek Orthodox, said she was heartbroken that anyone could be so disrespectful.
She has been visiting the Romna Gate Tandoori in her home of Southgate, north London, since she was a teenager, spending thousands there and always tipping staff at the Indian restaurant.
Sickened Georgia Savva has reported the vandalism as an anti-religious hate crime and says she will not let the matter go
She said: ‘I saw the broken cross on Tuesday and mentioned it to the children, who are at home revising for exams.
‘They told me to go to work and they would check the camera at the front of the house.
‘I assumed it would be a fox or something as the cross had been there for years, but they called me and said it was the delivery driver.
‘I called the restaurant and they ignored me and then I was so furious I went in there after work.
‘If you kicked over my plant pots I’d think you were a bit of a kn*b, but what he did was really offensive.
Bizarrely, just seconds later the video shows the door opening and Ms Savva’s teenage son handing the worker cash for the takeaway – including a generous tip
‘It doesn’t matter what your personal view is, you do not treat people like that.
‘You have a name for things that are anti-Muslim, or anti-semitic, but there isn’t one for things that are anti-Christianity.
‘There is no way I’m letting this rest.
‘There is no way I’m going to let my children think that sort of behaviour is OK.
‘If I can prosecute, I will.’
Georgia shared the video of the delivery driver on Facebook, saying she was ‘disgusted’.
She has now called the police and they are due to come and interview her at 8pm tonight (Weds).
She posted: ‘This is the moment the vile delivery driver tore down our palm crucifix off the wall and threw it to the ground.
‘Who knew anti-Christianity was rife in North London!
‘I have called several times and left messages and went into the restaurant and was told there is nobody of authority that can assist.
‘Absolutely disgusted.’
Georgia was inundated with supportive comments, saying no religious hatred should be tolerated.
She added: ‘My son has called the police, they will come and take a statement, it is just so malicious and unacceptable! I was so upset this morning when I saw the cross in pieces on the floor.’
The broken cross, circled, lies in pieces on the ground outside Ms Savva’s home in North London
And she replied to one concerned neighbour: ‘I feel sick that we have been funding his hatred for so many years.’
Mario Menz said: ‘Georgia seriously report it as criminal damages. It’s a crime to do something like this. No joke and no exaggeration. It IS criminal damages under the law.’
Maria Panayiotou said: ‘You are paying them for a service and don’t expect that kind of behaviour.’
She added: ‘Call 101 and get advice to racism and criminal damage! And inform the restaurant that! And that we will all share the video*.then I bet someone talks to you!’
The restaurant has since put up an apology to Georgia and blamed Ramadan for the fact they haven’t got back to her.
It said: ‘On behalf of Romna Gate Tandoori its management team, owners and stakeholders, we sincerely apologise for the actions of this employee and delivery driver.
‘This incident occurred at approximately 10pm on Monday 11th June 2018.
‘Due to the month of Ramadan, the management has limited hours of operation between 6pm to 10pm on weekdays.
‘A member of our front staff became aware of the incident in person shortly after opening on Tuesday 11th June 2018, senior management began an investigation into the matter shortly after discovery at the earliest opportunity in the form of an onsite investigation at approximately 8pm yesterday.
‘Due to the late hours of operation we have not had the opportunity to respond and communicate with the family (household) involved in the incident directly.
‘However attempts will be made to do so.
‘Most importantly, Romna Gate does not condone and strongly deplores any form of abusive, violent, prejudicial, discriminatory, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic behaviour, this is the policy that has been upheld over the past 35 years of the business with all communities and faiths and will continue to be upheld moving forward.
‘The public can be assured that we have taken immediate action to suspend the driver in question pending further investigation and are treating this with the utmost seriousness.
‘Again we would like to extend our sincerest apologies to the customer in question and her family who have supported our establishment for many years.
‘We wish to make it expressly clear that the delivery man involved is NOT THE OWNER of the restaurant and does not represent the views of the family, ownership, management, front or backroom staff or the views of the general Bangladeshi community.
‘Should this matter require police investigation we will not hesitate to co-operate and provide any necessary information.’
Southgate has historically been a very mixed area, with prominent Jewish communities and a large proportion of Greek and Greek Cypriots.
In the 2011 census, white British residents made up 45 per cent of the population.
The Met Police have been contacted for a comment.