‘You can’t take a pee at our MaccyD’

A woman who threw a tantrum at McDonald’s when she was told she could not use the toilet wept as she was let off with a fine.

Charlotte Heaven, 24, and Mario Musiu, 25, had been drinking in a nearby pub when they went into the restaurant at Liverpool Street station shortly after 10pm on 13 May 2018.

Heaven grew frustrated with staff after being told the loo was not in use and berated them as customers Pamela Watts and her boyfriend Timothy Dinler became involved in the row.

She then grabbed Ms Watts by the hair and slapped her in the face, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

After trying to defuse the argument Musiu then lunged towards Mr Dinler.

‘Ms Heaven was shouting at staff members behind the counter because they did not have a toilet she could use,’ said Charles Shelton, prosecuting.

When told to calm down Heaven ‘yanked Ms Watt’s hair twice and pulled her head back’.

‘Ms Heaven used the flat part of her hand to hit Ms Watts in the face. Ms Watts backed against an unknown man for protection.’

Heaven then assaulted a police officer who arrived at the sceme by kicking him twice in the shin.

‘The aggravating feature is once the law and order arrived there was no attempt to calm down by Ms Heaven,’ Mr Shelton said.

Arthur Kendrick, defending Heaven, told the court: ‘She admitted kicking the officer and pulling the hair.

‘She is in full time employment. As a consequence, she has instructed me to offer significant compensation to both victims in this matter.

‘She works for a company which allocates office space.’

Musiu’s lawyer, Stewart Harris, explained: ‘It was an impulsive action without a shadow of a doubt. It is clear he had the lesser role in the incident.

‘We have heard that the other person was squaring up. That really suggests it was six of one and half a dozen of the other.’

Musiu works in his family restaurant as a waiter and it is hopes to inherit the businesses.

Magistrate Spyros Elia told Heaven: ‘We accept that this seems to be completely out of character as you have no previous at all.

‘We accept the references you have given and your own remorse and contrition. These amplify the fact that you are a good person.

‘We are going to deal with this by means of a much harsher fine to show a community order was what we should have been thinking about.

‘Just think about the price you have paid for what? Not being able to go to the loo in McDonald’s. Don’t you think it is a bit absurd?’

Heaven wept in the court as she was fined £800 and ordered to hand over £800 in compensation but bespectacled Musiu remained stoney faceed as he was ordered to pay a total of £800.

Musui, of The Square, Woodford Green, east London was fined £650 and ordered to pay court costs of £150 after admitting threatening behaviour.

Heaven, of Staples Road, Loughton, Essex was fined £800 and ordered to pay both PC Ronnie Griffiths and Ms Watts £400 in compensation.

She was also told to pay court costs of £165 after admitting assault by beating and assaulting a police officer.

Magistrate Elia told Musui: ‘You are a person of previous good character and we give you credit for your early guilty plea.

‘We are going to deal with this by means of a fine. We have taken your means into account when considering a fine.’
ends