A Shrewsbury teenager has been sentenced to nine months in a young offenders institution after attacking a man with a knife as he queued for a burger at a drive-through McDonald’s.
James Martin, 18, of Mary Webb Road, admitted charges of affray and possessing an offensive weapon at a previous hearing. The teenager appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday for sentencing.
Nicholas Wadsworth, prosecuting, said that on the evening of August 28, Martin was on the Meole Brace estate in Shrewsbury, drinking from a bottle of sambuca.
The court heard he went to talk to some friends outside McDonald’s before heading for the drive-through queue where he approached a car that was being driven by Chris Bailey and had an 11-year-old passenger.
Mr Bailey was waiting in line to order a burger meal and had his car window wound halfway down ready to place his order.
Mr Wadsworth said Martin put his hands through the window and said to Mr Bailey: “What are you looking at? This is the Meole Brace estate.” He then pulled a lock knife out of his pocket.
Mr Wadsworth said Martin began waving the knife around and refused to move away. Mr Bailey tried to wind his window up and push Martin’s hands away, but as he did so, Martin lashed out with the knife, causing a small cut to the fingers.
Police were called to the scene and arrested Martin who was still there and in possession of the knife.
He was taken to the station for questioning and said he could not remember the incident as he had drunk some beer and then a bottle of sambuca.
Ian Durant, for Martin, said his client was a hard working young man who had a pregnant girlfriend.
He said on the evening in question he had let himself down by getting very drunk and now had it all to lose in life.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: “This sounds like an absolutely terrifying ordeal for the innocent victims, who it sounds like were just getting something to eat.
“I am sentencing you to nine months’ detention in a young offenders institute.”
By Andrew Morris
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