Trelogan Man Jailed After McDonald’s Outburst and Driving Offences

A Trelogan man has been sentenced to 12 weeks behind bars following a series of motoring offences and abusive behaviour at a McDonald’s restaurant. 🚔

Harinder Mander, 45, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he faced punishment for multiple convictions including using threatening or abusive words/behaviour, twice failing to provide breath specimens, driving without a proper licence, and driving without insurance.

The court heard that on 5 October last year, North Wales Police received reports of a potential drink or drug-driver entering the region. Officers located Mander driving a BMW M5 on the A483, where he was “unable to drive in one lane,” forcing police to keep other vehicles away from him for safety.

His driving deteriorated further on the A55 before officers eventually stopped him. Prosecutor Helen Sidhu told the court Mander smelled of intoxicants and “was unable to walk unassisted.” He subsequently refused to provide breath samples both at the roadside and in custody.

In a separate incident on 9 December, Mander caused a disturbance at McDonald’s in Lloc, Flintshire. After being asked to park and wait for his food at the drive-thru, he entered the restaurant and became aggressive near other customers. When officers arrived, he repeatedly told them to “f*** off.”

The final offences occurred on 18 March this year at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, where security staff observed Mander exiting his Range Rover appearing “unsteady” with alcohol on his breath. He once again refused to provide breath samples and was found to be driving without a licence or insurance.

Defending, Harriet Gorst said: “The defendant has pleaded guilty to these offences at the first opportunity. Regarding the incident on 18 March, he accepts it does not look good given his previous sentence. He tells me on this occasion he’d handed the keys to his wife and proceeded to have alcohol in the car. He tells me he does this because as part of their religion it is frowned on to drink alcohol and out of respect for his wife and family, he would often drink in his car. He fully accepts the behaviour following this incident.”

The court heard Mander, a father-of-three, suffered a stroke in late 2024, resulting in reduced mobility on one side of his body, with his lawyer noting: “He has expressed feelings of anxiety and depression following this stroke.”

Along with the immediate 12-week jail term, Mander received a 48-month driving ban and must pay court costs of £85 for each of the three incidents, plus a £154 victim surcharge upon release. ⚖️