Duo punched and kicked Newcastle McDonald’s security guard after row over order

Teenagers Samuel Stuart and William Peters attacked the victim at the Grainger Street branch of the fast food outlet

19:27, 03 Apr 2026Updated 19:32, 03 Apr 2026

Two teenagers punched and kicked a McDonald’s security officer after a row broke out over a food order. Samuel Stuart and William Peters were in a Newcastle City Centre branch of the fast food chain when the former got into an argument with staff about an order he claimed to have placed and hadn’t received but didn’t have a receipt for.

A court heard that security were called to remove Stuart and, as the officer did so, Peters jumped on him from behind and began throwing punches. Moments later, and once outside the store, the victim was taken to the ground and Stuart was captured on camera kicking him to his side, prosecutors said.

The pair were eventually pulled off the security guard and they ran off but they were later tracked them down by police. Stuart, 19, of Nunwick Way, in High Heaton, and Peters, 19, of Harle Road, in Backworth, both appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court this week, where they pleaded guilty to one count each of assault by beating.

Prosecutor, Ruth Forster, said both teenagers were in McDonald’s on Grainger Street on the evening of March 8 this year. “The complainant was on duty when he was asked to assist with removing an aggressive male.

“The male complained he had ordered food but was unable to provide a receipt. The complainant walked towards him and gestured with his arms, indicating him to walk towards the exit. He described the male as becoming increasingly aggressive.”

The court heard that the victim was ushering Stuart towards the exit when Peters suddenly jumped on him from behind and punched him a number of times. Mrs Forster added: “Once outside, the victim claims he was taken to the floor and punched repeatedly. It’s open to interpretation as to what you see on the footage but Mr Stuart delivered at least once kick to the defendant as he goes down on the floor.”

The court heard that passers-by intervened and Stuart and Peters eventually ran-off. The victim suffered a cut to his mouth and a sore knee and thumb. Magistrates heard that neither teen had past convictions and both had apprenticeships.

Jonathan Cousins, defending, added: “Mr Stuart has a diagnosis for ADHD and autism but has overcome them to have a promising career. Both men had been in McDonald’s and Mr Stuart had ordered some food on a machine and something went wrong on the machine.

“As the security officer tried to usher him out, he put his hands on his arms and Mr Stuart took exception to that and pushes the security guard’s hand away. He then goes to walk out the store and does walk out. As he’s walking out, the security guard raises his fists.

“That’s when Mr Peters becomes involved because he thought the security guard was going to hit Mr Stuart.” Both men were given 12-month conditional discharges and must each pay £100 compensation, £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

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