Londonderry: Man jailed for inappropriately touching McDonald's worker

A man who inappropriately touched a staff member at a fast food restaurant in Londonderry has been jailed.

Duane Francis Gérard Farry, 33, from Ashfield Gardens in Fintona, County Tyrone, admitted a series of charges that occurred on 27 August.

Police were sent to the McDonald's on the Strand Road after a report of a female staff member being touched inappropriately by a drunken man.

Farry's case was heard at Londonderry Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

The court was told that officers who arrived at the restaurant spoke to Farry, who became "confrontational".

Farry lashed out at police and attempted to bite officers, with one of them injuring his knee.

The female employee said she was cleaning in the restaurant when she was approached by the defendant who grabbed her by the waist and pulled her against him.

The incident was captured on CCTV, with the defendant claiming that he was "tickling" the woman.

A defence barrister said it was "an unsavoury incident" and that his client apologised and accepted it never should have happened.

He said the woman was entitled to do her job "with dignity and respect".

Farry was jailed for four months and ordered to pay the woman £400 in compensation.