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A man who robbed a fast-food restaurant and demanded chicken nuggets had to accept âbreakfast foodâ instead because it was too early.
Rudi Batten, 22, raided a McDonaldâs in Bristol in the United Kingdom at around 7 a.m. on Feb. 8, Bristol Post reported yesterday, April 29.
Aside from demanding chicken nuggets, however, the Bristol Crown Court heard yesterday details of Battenâs crimes that led to store staff being traumatized.
He reportedly first stole ÂŁ50 from the cash register and held a pistol â which turned out to be an unloaded airsoft pellet gun â to the store managerâs head and asked him to open the storeâs safe.
Batten got a red tin with ÂŁ250 in cash and two bags containing ÂŁ100 each as well as a bag of coins, according to the report. He then asked the manager for some chicken nuggets, but got double sausage McMuffin instead as they were only serving breakfast food at the time.
Just the day before, he robbed another store for cash and got to flee with some fried chicken. He was caught on CCTV on both occasions.
Batten has since been sentenced to six years in prison for the crimes, as ruled by Judge William Hart yesterday.
âThe staff were clearly terrified as anyone would be,â the judge was quoted as saying. âItâs the last thing people would expect in a quiet takeaway in that part of the country.â
âA chilling aspect of that robbery is the way the gun was held. Itâs clear the impact this sort of offending has. There was considerable alarm in the community,â he added.
Some of the staff have since been suffering from the trauma caused by Battenâs actions, according to victimsâ statements read in court.
âAny interaction with a customer makes me really tense, on edge and panicky. There have been times when I havenât been sleeping,â one victim was quoted as saying.
On the same day of the McDonaldâs robbery, just before 3 p.m., Batten surrendered to the police, the report said. He was quoted as saying, âIâm being forced into doing this. I donât want to do this.â
Battenâs lawyer said the manâs crimes were carried out in order for him to pay debts after getting involved in drugs. She also noted that Batten committed the crimes out of fear for the safety of his family.
âHe is utterly ashamed and embarrassed,â the lawyer was quoted as saying. âHe is horrified he behaved in this way. He is deeply, deeply sorry he committed these offenses.â Ian Biong /ra
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