'McBanned': Woman barred from fast food restaurant in Grimsby after rolling a joint at a table and abusing staff
Tara Conway has been given a restraining order banning her from a McDonald's restaurant for six months.
Tara Conway has been given a restraining order banning her from a McDonald's restaurant for six months.
"MCDONALD'S customers who repeatedly cause a nuisance will be excluded."
That was the message from the worldwide burger giant today as a Grimsby woman was banned from a town branch after refusing to stay away when she was kicked out for rolling a joint at a table.
The drunken woman repeatedly returned, "kicked off" and angrily hurled abuse at staff before threatening to slit the throat of one of them and "smash her face in", Grimsby magistrates heard.
Tara Conway, 28, of Alexandra Road, had been banned from the restaurant a few days earlier after rolling a joint of cannabis on a table but returned every night afterwards and had threatened to stab staff, yelled threats and refused to leave.
Conway later admitted she "kicked off" and "got gobby" after drinking heavily on a "bad day".
She admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour on December 18 and assaulting PC James Wood in the execution of his duty on December 27.
She also admitted damaging windows, belonging to R & J Leisure Arcades, in Cleethorpes on November 30 and December 3.
Rebecca Dolby, prosecuting, said Conway had previously caused problems at the McDonald's restaurant in Victoria Street, Grimsby, and was banned from there.
She returned, however, and was told to leave but refused.
Some friends tried to drag her outside but she shouted at a member of staff: "I'm going to smash your face in."
She yelled: "I'll wait outside and slit her throat" and "I'll smash her face in."
Conway swore at a police community support officer and threw her arms around, trying to push the officer away.
The officer feared he was going to be assaulted and took hold of Conway's arm but she struggled and shouted: "Get off me."
She was escorted to a police vehicle and was put on the ground but struggled violently and shouted.
The separate assault on a police officer happened when officers were alerted that she might have armed herself with a kitchen knife after a confrontation with neighbours.
Officers took hold of her arm but she shouted something. She started to walk away and was told to stop.
She struggled and lunged forward at PC Wood, hit him with force on the shoulder and knocked him back.
Gary Bulbeck, mitigating, said Conway had been drinking before all the incidents and realised her behaviour was unacceptable.
"She realises that this can't go on and she has distanced herself from the friends who were bad influences and has stopped drinking alcohol," said Mr Bulbeck.
"Alcohol has been cut back to zero. She is banned from McDonald's. She knows that. She has got no intention of returning."
Bench chairman Tony Miller branded Conway's behaviour "horrendous" – especially as it happened in front of members of the public.
Unemployed Conway was given a six-month supervision order, including eight sessions of a women's group, and was given a restraining order banning her from the McDonald's restaurant for six months.
She was ordered to pay £322.43 compensation to R & J Leisure Arcades for the broken windows.
A McDonalds spokesman told the Telegraph: "Our first priority is to ensure that our restaurants are safe and welcoming for both our customers and employees.
"We take antisocial behaviour very seriously and our ongoing work with the police sees us prevent incidents, and where necessary, exclude those who repeatedly cause a nuisance."
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