Buxton man jailed for attacking chef for cooking ‘bad’ nachos

Stewart Burningham also received a prison sentence for stealing his ex-girlfriend’s car and crashing it, at High Peak Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday.

The court heard that on December 12, the 32-year-old, finished his shift as a chef at the Old Club House pub, on Water Street, Buxton, at 8pm.

He went into the bar area and ordered a plate of pulled pork nachos. When it was brought out to him, Burningham, of Church View, Harpur Hill, complained that it was served incorrectly and should have been over two plates.

The dish was sent back, but after 15 minutes, he cancelled his order and went into the kitchen. The defendant approached chef Ian Scobbie and swore at him.

Mr Scobbie responded: “What’s your problem?” Burningham replied: “Have you ever seen the spec book?” and picked it up and threw it in his face.

He then grabbed the victim by the throat pushing him back into the dish wash area, shouting: “Who do you think you are?” Burningham proceeded to punch Mr Scobbie twice against the door of the fridge, leaving him with a fractured wrist.

The second incident, which occurred on August 23, involved taking his ex-girlfriend’s Hayley Robins’ Hyundai, driving it without insurance or a licence, and crashing into a Suzuki Swift on Nunsfield Road, Buxton, at about 12.45am.

He caused £1,446.40 worth of damage by smashing a wing mirror and scratching the bodywork and an alloy. The victim had to spend £150 on a hire car. Burningham also caused £200 of damage to Miss Robins’ car.

Prosecutor John Cooper said the defendant had previous convictions including 28 offences and had been in prison before for six weeks.

Kirsten Collings, defending, said he client was hoping for a custodial sentence as he openly admitted that he would not comply with a community order and he didn’t want a suspended sentence “hanging over him”.

Addressing Burningham, chairmen of the bench Robert Whatmough, said: “You’ve showed a complete lack of remorse, which is aggravated by your previous convictions. We have very little option but to sentence you to prison.”

He was given a 9-week jail sentence for using threatening behaviour, a 12-week jail sentence for aggravated vehicle taking, a concurrent 12 weeks for failing to stop after a road accident and was disqualified from driving for three years.