Man caught drink-driving at McDonald's after drive-thru turned him away on foot

A hungry worker landed up in court for drink-driving at a McDonald's drive-thru after being turned away on foot.

Edward McEvney, 31, initially tried to satisfy his late-night food cravings by trying to use the McDonald's drive-thru on foot.

But when he was turned away, he decided to get behind the wheel after having a drink and tackle the drive-thru in his white Peugeot Boxer van.

The Scot, from Buxburn, was staying at a Premier Inn hotel in Billingham, County Durham, for work when the incident happened in January, reports Teesside Live.

Cleveland Police officers were called to McDonald's at Wolviston Services after a worker reported a man who was intoxicated at the drive-thru just before 11.30pm on January 18.

But after being arrested, McEvney refused to provide a blood specimen for analysis as he "doesn't like needles" .

The driver appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court on Monday where he was banned from driving for three years and orderedto pay £439 in fines and costs.

It comes after he pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis on January 19.

When police arrived at the scene, they spotted McEvney in a parking bay where he was sitting in the driver's seat with a passenger.

Officers said he smelt of "intoxicating liquor" and showed signs of being intoxicated.

Rachel Dodsworth, prosecuting, said a screening test was carried out at the scene and McEvney was arrested.

Upon arrest, he said: "I was stupid."

The court heard how there was an error on the machine so the test was rendered unreliable and McEvney was asked to follow the blood procedure.

But he refused to provide a blood sample stating he "doesn't like needles" and family members were "heroin addicts".

Ms Dodsworth told of McEvney's previous convictions including failing to provide a specimen and drink-driving.

Nick Woodhouse, mitigating, said his client was staying at the Premier Inn hotel which is located close to McDonald's, Costa and Domino's at Wolviston Services.

He told how McEvney had walked from the hotel to McDonald's and tried to order food at the window but he was told he must be in a vehicle to order at the drive-thru.

Mr Woodhouse said: "Because he'd had a drink, he hadn't thought it through and got into the car and ordered food."

The court heard McEvney works up and down the country and was working at the chemical plant in Billingham at the time of the offence.

But it was said he will keep his job despite inevitably losing his driving licenc

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