Youths sentenced after attack at McDonalds drive-through in Leamington

But at Warwick Crown Court two of them were not jailed after the judge heard that their friend, who actually caused the injury, had only been given a referral order.

Sean Lilley, 20, of Longfellow Road, Warwick, and Callum Turnbull, 18, of Guy Road, Kenilworth, pleaded guilty to affray.

Lilley was sentenced to eight months detention suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work, while Turnbull was ordered to do 120 hours and was made subject to supervision for 18 months and an 8pm to 5am curfew for four months.

Judge Alan Parker said: “These defendants, while their behaviour was lamentable, were not responsible for the personal attack.”

Prosecutor Hugh Williams said that in the early hours of the morning on October 12 last year there was an incident at the McDonalds drive through in Queensway, Leamington.

“It involved the smashing of a window and one member of staff being punched to the floor and stamped on his face, causing a fractured jaw.”

Mr Williams explained that Lilley, Turnbull and a younger friend turned up at the front door of the 24-hour restaurant, only to be told it was closed because of staff shortages.

Frustrated because they had walked from Warwick to get there after they had been drinking brandy, Lilley kicked the window, which smashed.

When the manageress came out to remonstrate with them she was pushed by one of the three, at which another member of staff came out and stood between them and his boss.

It was then that he was punched and knocked to the ground by the defendants’ friend who then stamped on his face, fracturing his jaw.

An electricity board worker then intervened and got between the McDonalds staff and the youths, who then left.

When they were arrested Lilley told the police it had ‘kicked off’ after they had been refused service, and that he had kicked the window and the other youth had punched the staff member.

Judge Parker commented: “They were behaving like thugs. But there’s a real distinction between these two and the other young man.”

Mr Williams said that, although the younger youth been responsible for the serious injury, he was also only charged with affray and was dealt with in the Youth Court and made subject to a referral order.