A customer threatened to kill a man as a fight broke out inside a KFC.
Gavin Montgommery, 46, was on holiday in Llandudno with his partner when he was involved in a fight at KFC on Mostyn Street in the North Wales town. Montgommery, of Moss Lane, Liverpool, ended up fighting his victim following a disagreement.
Prosecutor Laura Knightly told Caernarfon Crown Court that, at 9.30pm on April 8 last year, Montgommery's partner Bernadette Lloyd had a conversation with a woman who seemed upset. Ms Lloyd then confronted Alan Molyneux, the woman's partner.
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She asked him if he had hit his partner. He denied this but then a fight broke out between Mr Molyneux and Montgommery, reports NorthWalesLive.
Ms Knightly said the men swore at each other and called each other names. At one point, Montgommery was heard to say: "I'm going to kill you."
The prosecutor said KFC shift leader Mr Bachelor sent out one worker to alert police. When officers arrived, Montgommery told them: "I've done nothing wrong. He started it, the skinny c***."
The defendant, who had been drinking lager, added that he had got "hands on" because he was frightened and acted in self-defence.
In a statement, Mr Bachelor said it had been the worst fight he had seen while working in the business. His workmates, who were aged 17 to 20, had felt threatened by the incident, the court heard.
Elen Owen, defending Montgommery, said her client accepted he had lost his temper by the end of the incident. She added: "For a large part of what was happening, he himself was under attack."
She said that, during the incident, Mr Molyneux's partner had hold of Montgommery's face and scratched his eyeball.
Ms Owen said Montgommery was genuinely sorry, and has ADHD and a borderline personality disorder but had forgotten to take his medication. He wants help for his mental conditions and has been offered a place by the Mersey Forensic Psychology Service, the court heard.
The court heard that Montgommery had been assaulted and nearly killed in prison 11 years ago and still has a scar near his jugular vein.
Following the incident in the KFC in Llandudno, he had denied causing affray but was convicted after a trial.
The judge, Mr Recorder John Philpotts told Montgommery he had "involved himself in shocking, unlawful violence on another man in a fast food shop".
He added: "I accept that in the early stage of that fight the other man was as keen as you to be involved, but having got the better of him you persisted in hitting and stamping or kicking him as he was on the ground.
"It was only with great difficulty that you were separated from your victim. The violence used by you was shocking and frightening for the young people - teenagers, mostly - who were members of the staff."
The judge said Montgommery's record was not helped by convictions for minor violence, serious public disorder, and at least one conviction for having a weapon. But Mr Philpotts said the defendant could be rehabilitated and by the "narrowest of margins" chose to suspend his sentence.
Montgommery was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must also do 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
Additionally, he has to take a mental health treatment programme and a thinking skills programme and must further pay £530 towards prosecution costs.
Mr Philpotts warned him he could be sent to prison if he reoffends and reserved any future case of any breach of those conditions to himself, if possible, as he told the defendant he could leave the dock. The defendant said: "I know that. God bless you", as he left the courtroom.
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