A man has faced court for abusing staff at McDonald's in Ballarat after they served his meal incorrectly.
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Bradley Fothergill appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to all charges.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Repac said police saw Fothergill driving in Mount Pleasant in October 2020 with an expired licence and no interlock device in his car.
The offence breached a good behaviour bond he had received for offending in December 2019, when police were called to McDonald's in Ballarat where he was abusing staff members.
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The court heard Fothergill returned to McDonald's after taking his meal through the drive through to confront staff about his meal being wrong.
Senior Constable Repac said Fothergill was aggressive and abusive towards staff and was stopped when he tried to enter the store.
Staff called triple zero and police attended.
Police smelt alcohol on Fothergill's breath and told police he had drunk half a bottle of vodka.
These people are just doing a job. A lot of them are kids, doing the best they can.
- Magistrate Tim Walsh
Police arrested him for being drunk in a public place and he attempted to thrash and break free from police.
Fothergill refused to undergo an evidentiary breath test.
A defence lawyer said alcohol use was an underlying factor that continued to bring Fothergill back into the criminal justice system.
The court heard he had turned to alcohol after a rough patch and feelings of distress from family disputes.
She said Fothergill had entered a plea of guilty at the earliest opportunity, was motivated to stay sober and was seeking ongoing treatment for mental health issues.
The lawyer said her client was working and his employer was a great supporter, as shown in a reference provided to the court.
Magistrate Tim Walshe asked Fothergill how he would feel if someone treated his daughter the way he treated the young staff at McDonald's.
"These people are just doing a job. A lot of them are kids, doing the best they can," he said.
Fothergill's licence was cancelled for the minimum mandatory period of two years for refusing a breath test.
Fothergill was convicted and fined $1000.
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