Peeved traveller thought Derbyshire McDonald’s staff “spat” in his food, court hears

Jason Lowther, 36, waved the jagged glass at the restaurant manager and another staff member, saying “I’m going to smash your face with this glass, I’m a traveller”.

Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard after threatening the workers on August 17 Lowther turned around and announced “don’t eat in here - they spit in your food”.

He was arrested an hour after the incident at the Matlock McDonald’s branch with the broken bottle.

Lowther, who has six previous convictions for 13 offences and had no legal representation, told a judge he “noticed saliva in my mouth” while eating his “Chicken Mac Meal” outside.

He added: “I know what she did was bad but I shouldn’t have threatened her.”

District Judge Andrew Davison asked Lowther “what real evidence” he had to suspect staff had spat in his food and “it could have been your own saliva couldn’t it?”

However he replied: “I thought she spat in my food because I’m from the travelling community - there’s a lot of racism towards the travelling community.”

Lowther, of Sutton Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire admitted threatening behaviour.

Judge Davison told him: “This is a somewhat bizarre case - I’ve not heard anything quite like this before.

“This is a very serious allegation and I do not believe it happened.

"There’s a fear factor which must have been significant for two people doing their jobs.”

He was fined £300, ordered to pay £200 compensation, a £34 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

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