Trio escape jail after drunken attack on takeaway shop staff

Missiles were hurled, racist language directed at Turkish staff and an urn of hot water tipped over as £1,900 damage was caused to the Oceania fish bar in Hallgate, Doncaster.

Matthew Bell, 27, Daniel Bowser, 23, and Donna Burley, 31, all admitted using threatening behaviour and narrowly escaped prison sentences at Sheffield Crown Court.

Judge Roger Keen told them: “This was disgraceful, shaming drunken conduct in a public place which affects the quality of life that night of people trying to run a business and the decent people of Doncaster who were out and about.”

Zaiban Alam, prosecuting, said Burley and Bell went into the takeaway about midnight on May 27 last year and were followed by Bowser.

All three used objects as 
missiles, said Ms Alam, including salt cellars and utensils 
which were thrown over the counter at employees who were battling to keep them out of the staff area.

A passing taxi driver who saw what was happening recruited a bouncer from a nearby pub who got the three out of the takeaway. Police arrived and arrested Bowser at the scene and the other two in nearby Lazarus Court.

Adrian Rawlinson, for care worker Burley, said “it was a gross error of judgment” committed while she was drunk and suffering marital problems.

Richard Haigh, for Bowser, said he could barely remember what happened and had “blundered” into the incident. After leaving, he himself had been assaulted by a member of staff.

Edward Moss, for Bell, said he had acted “totally out of character” but accepted causing distress to the takeaway staff.

Judge Keen said he had intended to jail all three to “demonstrate that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated” but said they were in a position to pay costs and compensation.

All three were given four-month jail terms suspended for two years. They were each ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work, pay £600 compensation to the staff and £900 towards the prosecution costs.