A shirtless teen who threatened a doorman with a knife after being refused entry into a Newcastle city centre McDonald's has avoided jail.
Corie Ruddy turned aggressive when a door supervisor asked him to leave the fast-food restaurant on Northumberland Street after he walked in without a top on at around 11pm on July 18 this year. The 18-year-old then took out a blade and threatened the doorman in front of a large number of witnesses. Fearing for his life, the doorman picked up a chair to defend himself before Ruddy left.
Ruddy, of Denton Road, Scotswood, Newcastle, appeared at Newcastle's Moot Hall via link from HMP Durham on Monday to be sentenced for threatening a person with a blade. He had pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous hearing.
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At a hearing in November, Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said a door supervisor was working at the entrance of McDonald's at 10.50pm when a group entered, including a shirtless Ruddy. He said: "The complainant stopped him from entering, telling him to put a shirt on, which he refused. He tried to walk past the complainant, who stepped across his path. The defendant put a hand on the complainant's chest and tried to push him away but he was pushed out of the restaurant onto the street."
After Ruddy was ejected from the McDonalds, he became "aggressive and confrontational" before "squaring up" to the doorman. It was then that Ruddy produced a blade out of a "little handbag" he was wearing. The court heard that despite the disturbance, "there was people standing around taking no notice at all".
Mr Pallister said: "The complainant heard the defendant saying 'I'll do it, I'll stab you', before he lunged towards him." The doorman resorted to picking up a chair to protect himself before Ruddy - who had eight previous convictions - walked off. He was later arrested after being identified on CCTV.
At the hearing on Monday, Paul Cross, defending, said Ruddy had "a very difficult history" and had been abused as a child when involved in County Lines drug groups. Mr Cross added: "As a result, he was attacked with a knife which left him feeling very vulnerable. He has spoken of being constructive in his life and would very much like to put his life in order."
Sentencing Ruddy, Recorder Mark Giuliani handed him an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, meaning he will be released from custody. He must also complete 25 rehabilitation days and do 70 hours unpaid work.
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