Man slapped KFC worker and posted online abuse
BUT ‘NO SUGGESTION OF VENDETTA’ AGAINST BRANCH OF FAST FOOD FIRM
AMAN who slapped a fast food restaurant worker across the face has been spared jail.
Ian Stuart Jones went into the KFC restaurant in Caernarfon on January 12 and acted aggressively towards staff, challenging them to fight.
After being asked to leave, the 20-year-old, of Ffordd Ysgubor Goch, made his way to the back door of the restaurant in Pool Street and entered the premises again.
He approached a male staff member and slapped him with an open hand across the face.
Later, staff at the restaurant became aware of malicious comments made by Jones on a website.
Jones admitted charges of assault, threatening behaviour and posting offensive messages online when he appeared before magistrates at Caernarfon.
Bench chairman Diane Arbabi said Jones’ behaviour was “totally reckless and inappropriate”.
“This was an unwarranted attack of a staff member. We believe it crosses the custody threshold,” she added.
Jones was handed a 16-week jail term which was suspended for a year.
During that time he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 35 rehabilitation activity days.
He must also pay £250 compensation to two staff members.
Jones will also be subject to a three-year criminal behaviour order, which bans him from using foul and abusive language in public and from making any comments about KFC staff online.
Andrew Scott, defending, said there was no real answer to why Jones had behaved in the way he did.
The solicitor suggested one reason may have been the prescription medication Jones had been taken at the time.
“There is no suggestion this was a vendetta against the KFC shop, which has had its problems, or its staff. This was a one-off,” he said.
He asked the court to give credit for his guilty pleas.
Since the incident the KFC branch in Caernarfon has closed.
The closure followed a series of anti-social incidents centred on the premises in December.