Torquay couple jailed for vicious attack on McDonald’s staff

A man and woman have been jailed for attacking staff at McDonald's in Torquay after trying to steal food from a delivery driver. Amarpreet Padda, 43, and Remi Curtis, 29, assaulted members of staff after they were confronted for taking food from a delivery bag at the drive through on Hele Road on October 23 last year.

The pair have been convicted at Exeter Crown Court. Padda was jailed for five years and three months and Curtis to two years and one month.

The court heard that the pair went to the takeaway shortly after 10pm where Curtis took a delivery bag from the driver and hid it under the table. When they were approached about the stolen food by members of staff, Padda punched one to the face and grabbed another to the throat before following him as he tried to walk away.

Curtis threatened a female victim with a glass bottle that she was holding and headbutted her.

She then made threats to one of the male victims with the bottle before Padda became involved again and while in possession of a blade, repeatedly stabbed the victim to the lower back and struck him to the face with his fist. He sustained five puncture wounds and was later treated in hospital.

Want the latest Devon breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice

Staff locked themselves and members of the public inside the building to prevent further harm and called emergency services. The suspects fled the scene before officers arrived, but they were tracked back to Curtis’ address by Police Dog Enzo, where they were arrested.

They both entered guilty pleas. Padda, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, theft, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and affray.

He was also sentenced today for offences of intentional strangulation and assaulting an emergency worker. This relates to a separate incident in South Devon in 2022.

Curtis, of Tricorn Close, pleaded guilty to Section 20 causing grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, theft, and affray.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Jen Rose said: “This was an extremely violent incident where a number of people have sustained injuries.

“I’d like to commend the McDonald’s staff and members of the public who intervened and assisted at the scene and locked the store to protect further people from risk.

“This behaviour is absolutely not tolerated and we will take robust action about those who seek to create violence and behave in this manner in our communities.”