A man who fell asleep in his car after ordering food at McDonald’s in Bentley Bridge found himself facing court after staff called the police out of concern.
Leon Carter, 29, alerted employees when he pulled into the McDonald’s car park but then nodded off inside his Volkswagen Tiguan before his order was ready. Staff, suspecting he might be intoxicated, reported him to police, who arrived just before 2 a.m. on February 21.
When officers approached Carter, they found the car doors locked. After prompting, he opened a window and then the door, exiting the vehicle. As police attempted to handcuff him, Carter tried to flee twice, leading to a physical altercation during which an officer sustained finger pain.
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A search of his car uncovered three mobile phones, £880 in cash, and £40 in Scottish notes. More incriminatingly, police found 19 bags of cannabis totaling nearly 224 grams and three bags of cocaine weighing 2.55 grams.
Carter, who has a previous conviction related to drug offences, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply, possession of cocaine, and obstructing a police officer. He was already under a nine-month qualifying curfew.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge John Butterfield sentenced Carter to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and participate in a 30-day rehabilitation program.