The court heard the 43-year-old called his actions an ‘error of judgment’ during attempts to purchase a £5 chicken nuggets meal deal
A man who brought a fake gun into a McDonald’s restaurant and stole food as frightened staff took shelter has avoided being sent to jail.
David James Vauls received a six-month suspended sentence for what he called an “error of judgment” during attempts to purchase a chicken nuggets meal deal.
The 43-year-old, of Highland Parade, admitted charges of carrying an imitation BB firearm in public and theft over the incident on June 22 this year.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard he entered McDonald’s on Ballygomartin Road in the city at around 3am carrying the suspected gun. The restaurant was closed to walk-in customers at that time of the morning.
“Staff were understandably very alarmed and secured themselves in a staff room before calling police,” a prosecution lawyer said.
CCTV footage showed Vauls going into the kitchen area and taking a bag of food ordered and prepared for another drive-through customer. He made no attempt to pay for the £12.77 takeaway despite appearing to have cash in his hand.
Police called to the scene detained Vauls in an outdoor seating area. He identified the suspected firearm as an imitation BB gun and confirmed that it belonged to him.
Defence counsel Danielle McMahon acknowledged it was a serious incident but stressed that the replica firearm was never brandished at anyone. She told the court Vauls had been drinking and went to McDonald’s hoping to buy a meal, taking the BB gun from his house.
“He spoke to the cashier and asked for a [£5] meal deal for four nuggets. Obviously they saw the gun and were worried,” the barrister said.
“When they left he didn’t go behind to take money or anything like that, he lifted a burger. That shows the sophistication of this and where his intent really lay.”
With Vauls currently on probation in an unrelated case, he was described as a man with learning difficulties who has been treated for paranoid schizophrenia and an addiction to cocaine.
Ms McMahon added: “He made full admissions and was remorseful at interview, stating that he made an error of judgment. When he brought it [the gun] he never meant any ill-intent.”
Imposing six-months custody, District Judge Steven Keown suspended the term for two years. He told the defendant: “This is extremely serious and it is extremely important that something like this cannot happen again… It needs to be a serious wake-up call.”
Vauls was also ordered to pay £12.77 to McDonald’s for the stolen meal.
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