Autistic Chesterfield youth in court for using lock knife to scrape salad off McDonald's burger at youth club

Danny Hailes, 19, had found the blade outside Frankie & Benny’s the same day and had tried to hand it into police, Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard.

A solicitor representing Hailes said he had kept the blade after finding the police station closed and there was evidence to prove it.

He then “drew out” the knife while at The Hub youth club on Low Pavement later that day to rid his meal of the salad.

Prosecutor Teresa Simms said during the incident on April 9 last year a McDonald’s takeaway was ordered – with Hailes’ burger containing salad that “he didn’t like”.

She said: “He was told to put the knife away and handed it over.”

Hailes’ solicitor said his client had produced the knife when a staff member offered to get a fork to scrape the salad off.

The solicitor said: “He drew the knife from his pocket and said ‘it’s Ok, I can use this’.

"He was challenged over the use of the knife and handed it over straight away – this is an offence of immaturity.”

The court heard regular churchgoer Hailes had been diagnosed with autism aged 14 and had no previous convictions.

Hailes, of Heather Vale Road, Hasland, admitted possession of a knife in a pubic place.

He was handed four months jail suspended for 12 months and a £154 victim surcharge.