Woman fined for disturbance in busy restaurant

Mar 31 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A WOMAN claimed she caused a disturbance in a busy fast food outlet because her drink had been spiked, a court heard.

Leoni McKinlay threw food and chairs around the Almondvale McDonald’s restaurant in Livingston before assaulting a member of staff.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard the restaurant was busy with families when McKinlay went in at around 7pm on Monday, February 21 this year.

“She was sitting at a table next to two 12-year-old children,” fiscal depute Julia McLaren said.

“She asked one of them if they had a problem and accused them of staring at her.

“They ignored her and continued with their meal and chatting with each other but she began throwing chicken nuggets at them.

“The accused then threw a tray at them which luckily missed them and landed on the floor next to them.”

A member of staff saw the food on the floor and told McKinlay she couldn’t create a mess in the restaurant but she just swore at him.

“He asked her to leave but she refused and continued to rant and rave,” Ms McLaren added.

“She stood up and threw three chairs which narrowly missed young children sitting nearby.

“Two members of the public then intervened and ejected her from the restaurant.

“She was then seen running at the entrance doors and banging on them while shouting and swearing.

“Another member of staff went out to try and calm her down and prevent her from running at the doors but the accused tried to spit and kick at her.”

The 23-year-old was then restrained by staff until the police arrived.

McKinlay, whose address was given as Riddochhill Crescent, Blackburn, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and assaulting the staff member.

Her solicitor, Ian Smith, told the court his client admitted she had been drinking that night.

Mr Smith added: “She suspects her drink was spiked with some chemical or other.

“She accepts given that she has problems with alcohol she shouldn’t be drinking at all but she has not deliberately taken drugs and is not someone who consumes drugs recreationally.

“This may be the case but she accepts full responsibility for what has happened.

“She very much regrets any upset she has caused members of the public and members of staff.”

Fining McKinlay £290, Sheriff Linda Smith said: “These are serious matters and obviously caused a lot of disturbance in a very busy restaurant. You subjected members of staff and members of the public to abuse.

“In terms of the member of staff it was a nasty assault.

“It is to your credit that you have taken considerable steps to address your offending behaviour over the past two years and you pled guilty at the pleading diet.”