‘Hangry’ Jacks fights, Macca’s king hits: Qld’s fast food criminals and their crimes
From late night Macca’s runs gone wrong to ‘hangry’ customer interactions – fast food restaurants are a hot spot for criminal interactions. Take a look at Qld’s fast food troublemakers and the shocking statistics about how hospitality workers are treated.
Bundaberg
Don't miss out on the headlines from Bundaberg. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Going for a late night Macca’s run or a cheeky Whopper at Hungry Jacks is typically a non-event.
But for these Queenslanders, their quick trip for a cheeseburger and chips has resulted in a date with a magistrate.
Car park brawls, drunken king hits and ‘hangry’ drive-through altercations – these fast food customers got themselves in trouble when their escapades for a cheap greasy fix resulted in hefty fines and jail time.
And these instances of customers behaving badly is not a rare occurrence.
A 2022 study by the University of Queensland found that the Australian hospitality industry is rife with harassment and abuse, among other issues that have become “normalised and systemic”.
In the Serving up a Fair Go? Surfacing cultural issues in hospitality employment report, more than 70 per cent of the 400 hospitality workers interviewed reported witnessing bullying, sexual harassment and/or racial abuse.
And the top perpetrators were customers, making up more than 50 per cent of abusive interactions.
In the report, respondents shared their stories anonymously stating that “it’s always customers”.
“I’ve had customers spit on me, pull my hair, grab my breasts and backside, follow me to my car, call me a *****, try to jump the bar and punch me, had a bottle hit me in the head”, said one respondent.
With abusive and angry customers becoming a new normal in the hospitality sector, take a look at our list of fast food restaurant employees and customers who got themselves into hot water across the state.
CONVICTIONS RECORDED
DRUNKEN ‘COWARD PUNCH’ AT IPSWICH MCDONALDS
An Ipswich McDonald’s customer was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face by a drunk Brassall man on October 28, 2023.
Shaquille Antonio Chapman, 25, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected and unauthorised dealing of shop goods when he appeared before Ipswich Court in March, 2024.
The court heard the victim fell backwards and hit his head against a table in an attack that Magistrate Jason Schubert called a “coward punch”.
Chapman told the court he was “sorry that happened” and “I don’t wish any harm upon that victim”.
Chapman, who had also stolen $44 worth of alcohol from BWS on October 21, 2023, was sentenced to 10 months jail, with immediate parole eligibility, 126 days of pre-sentence custody declared time served and ordered to complete 40 hours of unpaid community service.
RAGE-FUELLED REFUND FOR HOT CROSS BUNS
A 31-year-old man landed himself in jail after a refund for 30 hot cross buns and a frozen Coke at McDonalds turned sour.
Brendan Zane Dougherty appeared before Gympie Magistrates Court on August 23, 2023, and pleaded guilty via video-link to wilful damage, stealing, and possession of drug utensils after an incident on April 26, 2023.
The court heard that Dougherty demanded a refund on his order of 30 hot cross buns and a frozen Coke at Gympie McDonalds before returning an hour later wielding a towel-wrapped crowbar and using it to smash 10 self-serve kiosks, causing $26,000 in damages.
The court heard Dougherty had also stolen an extendible bollard from the outdoor dining area on his way out before being arrested by police the next morning where he remained in custody.
Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said Dougherty has “accepted he has anger management issues” and has a number of mental health diagnoses, including paranoid schizophrenia, PTSD, drug-induced psychosis and depression.
Dougherty entered an early plea of guilty and was sentenced to two years jail, suspended after six months, counting his time served in pre-custody sentence, and was ordered to pay $3606 in restitution as insurance covered the rest of the damages.
IPSWICH MACCA’S EMPLOYEE STEALS $6000
A Springfield Lakes man narrowly avoided a jail cell after stealing more than $6000 from the McDonald’s store he worked at over a period of eight months.
Tristan Levi Mitchell, 21, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates Court on September 16, 2021, and pleaded guilty to stealing as a servant of McDonald’s Augustine Heights between September 1, 2020 and April 9, 2021.
The court heard that Mitchell stole a total of $6168.70 with McDonald’s business ledgers and CCTV used as evidence, showing Mitchell keying in cash transactions as e-vouchers then removing the cash to place in his pocket or take to another room.
Prosecutor Sergeant Trent Voigt said that the transactions took place on a monthly basis, including one month in November, 2020, in which there were 207 transactions totalling $1237.30.
Sergeant Voigt said Mitchell, who had no criminal history prior to this, had a meeting with his manager in April and had since repaid the amount.
Mitchell, who made an early plea, was convicted and sentenced to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months, with Magistrate Dennis Kinsella telling him to “use this as a life lesson”.
ASSAULT ON MACKAY MACCAS SECURITY GUARD
A drunk miner had convictions recorded after assaulting a Mackay McDonald’s security guard over a faulty self-serve kiosk.
Scott Terrence Dowd appeared before Mackay Magistrates Court on July 28, 2023, and pleaded guilty to causing public nuisance and serious assault on a person over 60-years-old after punching the security guard.
Dowd was swearing at a self-serve machine at Mackay City McDonalds on May 11, 2023, when he confronted a consoling security guard, proceeding to spit at him twice and punch him while his girlfriend attempted to corral him back to his car.
Defence solicitor Robert Beamish told the court that Dowd was genuinely remorseful, had written a letter of apology and placed $500 for the victim’s lost wages in a trust account.
Dowd was jailed for nine months with immediate parole and ordered to pay a restitution of $560 to the security guard for lost pay and doctors fees.
Convictions were recorded.
PUNCHED IN THE HEAD AT AIRLIE BEACH MACCA’S
A Mackay teenager appeared before Mackay District Court on February 1, 2022, after a drunken assault at a McDonald’s landed a victim with $8500 in medical costs.
Ben George Arthur Turner, 18 at the time of offending, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm after punching a stranger in the head repeatedly at a Whitsunday McDonald’s in 2020.
The court heard that on August 29, 2020, Turner and his mates went to the Airlie Beach fast food restaurant after a night out when Turner and the victim’s friend “became involved in a scuffle”.
Turner punched the victim about eight times in the head and continued hitting him after the other man stopped resisting, the court heard.
Defence barrister Scott McLennan said that Turner, an operator for a road construction company, was soon expecting his first child and was “trying to diffuse the situation, not aggravate it” and used “some force but he clearly went too far”.
Citing his young age, Judge Julie Dick placed Turner on two years probation, ordered him to pay $2000 compensation and had convictions recorded.
‘HANGRY’ JACKS TIRADE LEADS TO CONVICTION
A Goodna man had a conviction recorded after his drunken angry tirade at a local Hungry Jacks got him arrested.
Paul John Jarrett, 49, appeared before Ipswich Magistrate’s Court on October 25, 2023, to plead guilty to a single count of public nuisance after verbally abusing a 21-year-old female store manager at Goodna Hungry Jacks.
Jarrett arrived at the fast food restaurant around 10:20pm on October 13, 2023, where the doors were locked, despite several other patrons still being served inside, the prosecution stating that the manager had closed early due to staff shortages, the court heard.
Jarret then “screamed” and banged on windows before managing to slip inside when another patron left.
The court heard that when the manager asked him to leave, Jarrett told the manager he would sue her and called her a “c---” before police arrived and he was arrested.
He was fined $800 and a conviction was recorded.
ASSAULT AFTER BEING ‘CUT OFF’ IN DRIVE THRU
A Spring Hill plasterer had a conviction recorded after punching and abusing a father who allegedly “cut him off” at Coolum Beach McDonald’s drive-through.
Chris Leon Greeff, 25, pleaded guilty to common assault in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 7th, 2022, after instigating an “unprovoked attack”.
The court heard Greeff, who was identified by CCTV footage, came up to the victim’s car where he had parked to eat food with his two children in the back, when he proceeded to yell and swear before punching the car window.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman told the court that the victim exited the vehicle when Greeff continued to yell including “threats to kill him” before punching him in the left shoulder.
Greeff’s solicitor Neesha Maidwell said Greeff had told her the victim “cut him off” in the drive-through and also had built up anger from family problems and did not know there were children in the car.
Greeff was fined $800 and ordered to pay $750 restitution to the victim.
GYMPIE RED ROOSTER ‘ROBIN HOOD’ CONVICTED
Kevin Christopher Davis, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of entering premises and stealing at Gympie Magistrates Court on March 13, 2023, after stealing a tray of chicken from Red Rooster, telling the court it was to ‘feed the masses’.
The 39-year-old man was caught on CCTV just before midnight on February 26, 2023, stealing a tray of food from the Gympie Red Rooster before leaving on foot.
The court heard that patrolling police found him at the amphitheatre at Nelson Park Reserve with a tub of chicken wings, a bag of nuggets and three bottles of Coke.
Representing himself in court, Davis said he was going to use the food to “feed the homeless”, telling the Magistrate he was “Guilty as f---, Your Honour”.
No compensation was sought by Red Rooster and Davis was fined $400 with a conviction recorded.
‘UNACCEPTABLE VIOLENCE’ AT BEENLEIGH MACCA’S
A Mount Marren Park man with a longstanding issue with drug addiction was jailed for “unacceptable violence” after outbursts at a Beenleigh McDonald’s and later, a party.
Gavin James Batchelor, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed in company and one count of common assault when he appeared before Beenleigh District Court on July 24, 2023.
The court heard that the Logan man had bashed a 23-year-old friend outside Beenleigh McDonald’s on July 13, 2022, kicking the victim’s legs out from underneath him and punching him.
Batchelor had taken the man’s phone and wallet previously and they had argued over whether he would return it or not, the court heard.
At a party in Beenleigh the next day, he apologised to the friend and said he would return the phone and wallet when an argument erupted outside the house over a $100 Uber bill.
The court heard that partygoers started to pull out weapons and Batchelor punched the victim in the face while another man allegedly stabbed the victim in the elbow and ribs for which Batchelor was prosecuted as a party to the offending.
Judge Craig Chowdhury said the “violence simply cannot be tolerated in a civilised society” and is “unacceptable”.
Batchelor was sentenced to two and a half years prison and released immediately on parole after already serving one year of pre-sentence custody.
NO CONVICTIONS RECORDED
KINGAROY MCDONALDS ASSAULT ON MOTHER AND CHILD
A 20-year-old bond cleaner pleaded guilty to two counts of assault before Kingaroy Magistrates Court on January 22, 2024 after she punched a mother and her child in the face and dragged the mother by her hair in a McDonalds car park in January, 2023.
The court heard that Riddle arrived at the Kingaroy McDonalds after spending time at the local pub, with Riddle’s lawyer, Mark Werner, stating that numerous fights were happening in the car park that night.
Mr Werner said that Riddle’s friend was involved with her fight with her ex and another assault was occurring where “another gentleman dragged another woman off in a headlock” when the victim came over and was “having words about everything”.
Mr Werner told the court that the victim was “telling everyone what to do” when Riddle approached her asking “what kind of mother are you bringing your children into all of this”.
Mr Werner said the victim was allegedly offended and walked “aggressively” towards Riddle, with CCTV footage showing Riddle attacking the victim, punching the mother in the face and chest before she threw the victim on the ground and used her hand to grab her hair and drag her along the carpark.
Police prosecutor Barry Stevens told the court that the child of the adult victim then intervened and Riddle “used a closed fist and punched the face of the child” who sustained a bloody nose.
Magistrate Andrew Sinclair agreed that Riddle did not start the altercation and it was “excessive self defence”.
Riddle was fined $1000 for both assaults and no convictions were recorded.
DALBY MCDONALD’S KING HIT
Bradley Louis Britcher, 28, appeared before Dalby Magistrates Court on December 12, 2023, and pleaded guilty to affray and assault occasioning bodily harm after punching another man in a drunken altercation inside a McDonalds.
The court heard that Britcher, who has a background as a security guard, entered the McDonalds at around 2.30am on September 3, 2023, with his cousin and a group of friends and began taunting staff members of the restaurant when they were approached by a member of the public.
The court heard Britcher told the victim “what are you going to do about it” to which he replied “f--- off and leave” and put his hands on Britcher’s chest to push him away.
Police prosecutor Derek Brady then told the court that Britcher “punched the victim in the side of the face” which was reviewed in CCTV footage by police and described as a “king hitting motion”.
After being punched, the victim fell to the ground, split his head open and was transported to Dalby Hospital.
Britcher’s defence lawyer Paige Hetherington said her client had been drinking for 10 hours that day and believed that “the complainant was trying to initiate a fight when he put his hands on his chest” and that he was “extremely remorseful”.
Character references were submitted on Britcher’s behalf, along with an apology letter, and he was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service in nine months and ordered to pay $1500 compensation to the victim.
No convictions were recorded.
WINDSCREEN WIPER BLUNDER AT GLADSTONE MACCA’S
Joseph Alexander Carige, appeared before Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 8, 2023, and pleaded guilty to wilful damage after snapping a windscreen wiper off a car in a McDonald’s car park.
The 24-year-old electrical engineer has gone to Gladstone McDonald’s on April 10, 2023, at around 10:15pm after being at the pub and was walking out of the store before pausing and violently snapping the rear windscreen wiper off a parked Ford Fiesta.
The female victim, who is unknown to Carige, reported the incident to police and provided CCTV images of the damage.
The court heard that Carige told police he did not know anything about the damaged windscreen wiper, had no criminal history and did not object to the $250 restitution sought by the prosecution.
Carige was fined $200, ordered to pay $250 restitution and had no convictions recorded.
MAN FLASHES FEMALE STAFF MEMBER IN DRIVE-THRU
A North Maclean man escaped a conviction after exposing himself to a female staffer at a Maccas drive-through.
Mack Earl Tipper, 18, appeared before Beaudesert Magistrates Court on October 19, 2021 and pleaded guilty to an indecent act intended to insult or offend after driving naked through Flagstone McDonalds on September 19, 2021.
The court heard that the 18-year-old bull rider drove into the McDonalds drive-through at around 1.13am and ordered a large vanilla coke before driving up to the first window when the 19-year-old female staffer realised Tipper was fully naked.
Tipper paid for his drink with a $5 note and when the female staff member took the cash, she noticed his erect penis which she later saw he was touching.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Rachel France told the court that he was “waving it back and forth in an up and down motion” before using that same hand to take his change from the staff member before driving to the next window, collecting his drink and driving away.
The female staffer called police and told her manager, with CCTV confirming the alleged incident.
Tipper had no prior history and wrote a letter of apology and was placed on a six-month good behaviour bond with no convictions recorded.
TRADIE SPITS ON TEENAGE MACCA’S EMPLOYEE
Dean Adam Woodhouse, 26, appeared before Cleveland Magistrates Court on October 31, 2023 and pleaded guilty to one charge of common assault after losing it at a 17-year-old McDonald’s employee.
The court heard that the Ormiston tradesman drove to the drive-through intercom at Cleveland McDonalds at about 10:30am on May 10, 2023 before telling the teenage worker “You useless c---, I’ve been waiting for five minutes”.
The police prosecutor told the court that after further conversation, Woodhouse pulled up the window and spat at the McDonald’s employee, who called triple-0 after Woodhouse drove off.
Police attended the restaurant, seized the victim’s shirt for DNA evidence and collected CCTV evidence of the altercation.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta called Woodhouse’s reaction “disgusting” and ordered him to pay $2000 in compensation to the victim in addition to a $500 behaviour bond.
No conviction was recorded.
DRUNK LATE NIGHT MACCAS RUN GONE WRONG
Liam James Laurence C Maundrell, 22, appeared before Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 8, 2022, and pleaded guilty to driving under the influence after a late night Maccas run resulted in a drink driving charge.
The 22-year-old Coolum Beach dentist was driving to a nearby McDonald’s with his housemate at around 12:50am when he was pulled over by police on May 22, 2022 and provided a positive breath test, the court heard.
He was taken back to Maroochydore police station and blew a blood-alcohol content reading of 0.173.
Magistrate Rod Madsen noted Maundrell’s “exemplary” background, but said that the fact he only drove a short distance did not help his case, noting a similar case in Noosa where someone broke their neck while driving a short distance under the influence.
Maundrell was fined $1400 and was disqualified for six months with no conviction recorded.
Originally published as ‘Hangry’ Jacks fights, Macca’s king hits: Qld’s fast food criminals and their crimes
$190m in works awarded for Borumba, including design of two huge worker camps
Three major works packages have been awarded for the Borumba Pumped Hydro developments, marking a significant next stage of the the 2000 MW renewable energy project.
Minister’s Bruce Highway fix hope amid funding row
While bickering over the funding split between state and federal governments continues, Australia’s Infrastructure Minister says she believes the Bruce Highway could be complete one day.
Mayor and LNP pressure Smith over stalled transport strategy
After five years of planning, Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn wants the state government to take action on an integrated transport strategy that would include upgrading dangerous intersections and improving the city’s flood evacuation routes.
Taxi driver loses bid for protection against alleged workplace bullying
A Bundaberg taxi driver has lost her bid for protection against alleged workplace bullying after Australia’s employment watchdog found she was not covered by the legislation.
Residents fear massive fire was arson but no police probe yet
Police say there are no investigations underway into the cause of a fire which torched Harriet Island in the middle of Bundaberg on Saturday night after what many believe was an act of arson.
Bundaberg sale and auction results, week ending September 15
See the latest auction and sales results in Bundaberg for last week.