Swift justice for man who waved knife in McDonalds (From Echo)
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Swift justice for man who waved knife in McDonalds
8:20am Monday 29th October 2012 in News
A MAN who terrified diners at McDonalds by waving a knife around received some swift justice....and was jailed within 21 hours.
Paul Gardner felt the long arm of the law following his shocking behaviour at the branch at the top of Southend High Street.
He had taken the kitchen knife into the fast-food outlet at 2.30pm on Wednesday where he presented it to a manager.
But by 11.30pm the following morning he must have regretted his actions, as he was jailed for nine months.
MP James Duddridge, who represents Southend East and Rochford, said it was excellent to see an offender processed so quickly.
He said: “It’s excellent this has been processed so quickly. Swift justice is better justice and better to see someone behind bars so quickly, so protecting the community, than taking weeks if not months to process.”
Gardner, who gave his address as the Homeless Action Resource Project, in Valkyrie Road, Westcliff, pleaded guilty to theft and possession of a blade in a public place.
Prosecutor Ian Allen said a member of staff had seen him holding the knife in his hand.
He said: “She described him as waving it. Understandably she told him to put it down, which he did.”
Bizarrely, he then asked her for some bags because his own bag was broken.
She gave him the bags and then followed him out of the store where she flagged down PC Martin Knights to make an arrest.
It later emerged that the kitchen knife from Wilkinson’s, in the Victoria, earlier that morning along with items meant as birthday presents for his neice.
George Lewsey, mitigating, said his client was an alcoholic and wsa drunk at the time, but that he had never threatened anyone with the knife.
The court heard he had been given a suspended sentence for shop theft just nine days before this crime. This was activated and he was jailed for nine months.
Comments(25)
Eric Whim
says...
4:36pm Fri 26 Oct 12
MP James Duddridge, who represents southend east and Rochford, said it was excellent to see an offender processed so quickly
now it's been done once lets see it carried out more often in future eh?
DogsMessInLeigh
says...
4:37pm Fri 26 Oct 12
DogsMessInLeigh
says...
4:40pm Fri 26 Oct 12
George Lewsey, mitigating, said his client was an alcoholic and wsa drunk at the time"
so was the person who wrote the article by the sounds of it....Hic....
Shoebury_Cyclist
says...
8:38am Mon 29 Oct 12
He said: “It’s excellent this has been processed so quickly…"
Who wrote this, Dale Maily?
PJR-121
says...
8:55am Mon 29 Oct 12
Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:The first time this story was published, it was reported as MacDonalds... Obviously the same reporter, as although the Echo has changed it in this story - they've forgotten to amend the summary on the homepage.
MP James Duddridge, who represents Southend East and Rochford, said it was excellent to see an offender processed so quickly. He said: “It’s excellent this has been processed so quickly…" Who wrote this, Dale Maily?
Plus the poor layout and terrible use of language for a newspaper... "he must have regretted his actions as he was jailed..." - It is not for a newspaper to assume feelings, but to report facts.
Another Echo fail...
DCLEIGH
says...
9:12am Mon 29 Oct 12
DogsMessInLeigh wrote:This article is another major crime against the English Language as we know it.
"It later emerged that the kitchen knife from Wilkinson’s, in the Victoria, earlier that morning along with items meant as birthday presents for his neice.
George Lewsey, mitigating, said his client was an alcoholic and wsa drunk at the time"
so was the person who wrote the article by the sounds of it....Hic....
Let's hope the incompetent supervisor who SHOULD have checked this copy is fired within 21 hours
alimac69
says...
9:27am Mon 29 Oct 12
ShrimperSS0
says...
10:08am Mon 29 Oct 12
APR
says...
10:30am Mon 29 Oct 12
I find the Echo is operating a double standard here.
They still only allow comments on non controversial stories.
They will put up headlines about the Jim-my Sa-vile story, but not allow comments ?
Perhaps they should introduce a section where we could talk about these stories. Rather than every story having to be child friendly ?
Olivia2847
says...
10:44am Mon 29 Oct 12
APR wrote:Exactly - was palmed off by e-mail by Noddy, that The Pipe and Slippers Gazette has to adhere to a publishing code - my arse .......
Talking of criminals !
I find the Echo is operating a double standard here.
They still only allow comments on non controversial stories.
They will put up headlines about the Jim-my Sa-vile story, but not allow comments ?
Perhaps they should introduce a section where we could talk about these stories. Rather than every story having to be child friendly ?
PJR-121
says...
11:03am Mon 29 Oct 12
Olivia2847 wrote:I'm sorry, what?
APR wrote: Talking of criminals ! I find the Echo is operating a double standard here. They still only allow comments on non controversial stories. They will put up headlines about the Jim-my Sa-vile story, but not allow comments ? Perhaps they should introduce a section where we could talk about these stories. Rather than every story having to be child friendly ?Exactly - was palmed off by e-mail by Noddy, that The Pipe and Slippers Gazette has to adhere to a publishing code - my arse .......
You received an email about this that suggests the Echo has to adhere to a publishing code and therefore comments are not allowed on sensitive stories?
If that's what you mean, that's a load of tosh - all it means is they need to moderate the comments to ensure nothing untoward is said, and they can't be bothered to have anyone moderate comments.
Publishing code? Never heard anything like that ever - and I've been an Editor for eight years!
APR
says...
11:46am Mon 29 Oct 12
Just look at the stories where comments are not allowed, and those stories that get comments deleted because nanny doesn't like them.
When is the last time you saw comments allowed on a P x x x y story.
I can see their point sometimes, as threads do tend to go pear shaped. Usually due to the same few individuals being abusive.
I belong to about six different forums, read by people of all ages, and only one (other than the Echo) delete all references to Sa-vile.
Bosniavet
says...
11:53am Mon 29 Oct 12
PJR-121
says...
11:54am Mon 29 Oct 12
APR wrote:The publishing code reference is tosh, there's no such thing. If they're going to answer the question, they may as well answer it truefully...
You say "It's a load of tosh" but it has been the case on here for some time. Just look at the stories where comments are not allowed, and those stories that get comments deleted because nanny doesn't like them. When is the last time you saw comments allowed on a P x x x y story. I can see their point sometimes, as threads do tend to go pear shaped. Usually due to the same few individuals being abusive. I belong to about six different forums, read by people of all ages, and only one (other than the Echo) delete all references to Sa-vile.
The real reason is that the comments section on here is predominatly self-moderated. If you don't like a comment, you can report it. This means that a reporter only needs to sweep the board occassionally.
Other forums on bigger publications, or those who bother, have a dedicated web team, who take time to check each report's comments, remove those which break the rules, are offensive, spam, troll etc., and ban users who constantly break the rules.
As far as I am aware, the Echo does not have this - therefore, they close comments on articles they think are 'sensitive' and which will get out of control quickly. To be honest it's fair enough.
Just wish they'd admit that rather than hide behind a 'publishing code' that doesn't exist relating to forum comments.
I also wish they'd employ reporters who check stories before they publish them online, and those who can spell.
I mean, MacDonalds? Lucky it didn't take place in Bugger King...
jantone
says...
12:55pm Mon 29 Oct 12
should not be allowed to live for what he did!!
Thekingofsouthend
says...
1:22pm Mon 29 Oct 12
jantone wrote:Life for frightening people, err halloween.....
the bloke should have got"LIFE" for frightening customers!!
should not be allowed to live for what he did!!
saddo99
says...
2:31pm Mon 29 Oct 12
alimac69 wrote:Was (not Was). I remember them..."Feed Your Head" As for the Echo having a code, I think it is more that any controversial viewpoint will be removed anyway no matter what the subject thus rendering the forum ridiculous. I only popped back to see if the Echo has got any better. It hasn't!
Niece not neice, was not wsa.
alimac69
says...
2:43pm Mon 29 Oct 12
firedog
says...
4:57pm Mon 29 Oct 12
APR
says...
5:46pm Mon 29 Oct 12
It's a shame that so many children are force fed this rubbish. Thinking it is proper food
Olivia2847
says...
6:47pm Mon 29 Oct 12
PJR-121 wrote:That's what Noddy said guv!
Olivia2847 wrote:I'm sorry, what?
APR wrote: Talking of criminals ! I find the Echo is operating a double standard here. They still only allow comments on non controversial stories. They will put up headlines about the Jim-my Sa-vile story, but not allow comments ? Perhaps they should introduce a section where we could talk about these stories. Rather than every story having to be child friendly ?Exactly - was palmed off by e-mail by Noddy, that The Pipe and Slippers Gazette has to adhere to a publishing code - my arse .......
You received an email about this that suggests the Echo has to adhere to a publishing code and therefore comments are not allowed on sensitive stories?
If that's what you mean, that's a load of tosh - all it means is they need to moderate the comments to ensure nothing untoward is said, and they can't be bothered to have anyone moderate comments.
Publishing code? Never heard anything like that ever - and I've been an Editor for eight years!
Brunning999
says...
6:56pm Mon 29 Oct 12
He has only one chance left in life and that is in his hands.
Nebs
says...
8:10pm Mon 29 Oct 12
joeyjojo
says...
7:48pm Thu 1 Nov 12
DogsMessInLeigh says...
4:36pm Fri 26 Oct 12