Co Armagh man fined £150 for lunging at Domino's staff after pizza order mix-up

The 35-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

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Russell Fullerton, of Millington Park, Portadown, pleaded guilty to common assault.

Police were tasked to Domino’s Pizza on Armagh Road, Portadown on September 25 this year around 9.33pm.

A Prosecutor told the court the defendant had ordered pizza online but the order had been "accidentally lost” and not brought to him.

"He had come to the shop. He was in an annoyed state. He made a lunge towards the staff and threatened them. The staff were frightened by this,” said the Prosecutor.

"He later left without any actual physical violence apart from lunging and putting them in fear,” she said, adding the defendant made admissions during police interview.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan pointed out that that charge relates to one member of staff and not the staff in general. He said it is a technical assault however "it is at their place of work”.

Fullerton’s solicitor Mr Harry McCourt said his client had just finished a 12-hour shift and ordered food for him and his children but it didn’t arrive. Mr McCourt explained Fullerton has Type 1 Diabetes and his blood sugars go low if he hasn’t eaten.

He read part of Fullerton’s interview with police where he pointed out ‘there was no intent. I wasn’t trying to hurt him. I was so worked up and it was just to cause fear but not to cause harm".

"He accepts this man was at his place of work. He is a working man and accepts he shouldn’t be treated like that in your place of work. He lost the run of himself on that day,” said the solicitor.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan told the defendant: “You yourself are a working man. It has been explained you understand and accept the importance of anyone at their place of work being in any way assaulted."

He was fined £150 plus £15 Offender Levy and ordered to pay the victim £250 compensation. He allowed Fullerton 20 weeks to pay.