A disqualified driver with an “appalling record” was reported to police by a McDonald’s employee after ordering a burger while driving more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Not only was Jermide Omaghomi banned from driving and was over the legal limit, he also had no insurance to be behind the wheel of his Lexus when he pulled up to order fast food.

However, a McDonald’s employee working at the branch in Strood Commercial Road called the police, thinking he was drunk, and found Omaghomi still sitting in his car, waiting for his order.

He later failed a roadside breath test and was arrested, and further checks by police revealed he was not even allowed to drive as he was still banned and as a result had no insurance to drive the vehicle.

The court heard the incident took place on July 22 last year and it was not the first time he had been caught driving while disqualified.

Omaghomi, of Gordon Road, Strood, had initially denied the three counts, but changed his plea to guilty on the day of his trial in September when a pre-sentence report was ordered to be prepared against him before learning of his offence. destiny.

He was given a temporary driving ban at that time.

He returned to Medway Magistrates’ Court to be sentenced on November 7, and when the magistrate was taken back to the police station and given further breath tests he gave a reading of 90 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath – the legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Sarah Madden said: “It was 3.02am and he drove into McDonald’s and the server thought he was drunk and asked him to pull over in the car park to wait for his food and then called the police.

“He failed a roadside breath test and subsequently performed 90 breathless breaths, and further checks revealed he had been banned for drink driving for 40 months.

“He also has a record of drink driving from March 2013 and was found guilty of failing to earn a living in 2014 and 2019 and his most recent ban was issued in March 2023 when he was disqualified for 40 months, so he started driving again five months later. The moon is forbidden.

“Therefore, a minimum three-year ban applies.”

If a person is found to have drunk driving more than twice in a 10-year period, sentencing rules mean they will be banned from driving for at least three years.

Defending himself, Omaghomi said: “I’m sorry for what I did.”

The judges then asked him what it would mean if he was sent to prison for this offense and why he was driving.

He replied: “I knew I was disqualified and if I went to prison it would be very bad for my family because I am the breadwinner.”

He later told the court he was an engineer and earned £31,000 a year.

The judges said that the crimes exceeded the detention threshold, but they were ready to postpone the sentence they gave him.

As a result, Omaghomi was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison for drink and driving, while the disqualifying offenses were suspended for 18 months.

He was also sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work and probation to attend 25 rehabilitation sessions.

Omaghomi did not receive a separate penalty for driving without an insurance offence, but his license was approved.

The board chairman said: “You waited until the last minute to plead guilty and you have a terrible driving record and as this isn’t your first time we are banning you for four years.”

Omaghomi was also ordered to pay £650 court costs and a £154 victim surcharge and pay his debts to the court at the rate of £200 a month.