A disqualified driver with an “appalling record” was shopped to police by a McDonald’s worker after he ordered a burger while driving more than twice over the legal drink-drive limit.

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

However, a McDonald’s worker at the branch in Commercial Road, Strood, thought he was intoxicated so called the police who found Omaghomi still sitting in his car waiting for his order.

The 42-year-old then 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 also had no insurance to drive the vehicle.

A court heard the incident happened on July 22 last year and it wasn’t the first time he’s been caught driving while disqualified.

Omaghomi, of Gordon Road, Strood, had originally denied the three allegations but then changed his plea to guilty on the day he was due to stand trial in September when a pre-sentencing report was ordered to be carried out on him before he learned his fate.

At the time he was handed an interim driving ban.

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

Sarah Madden, prosecuting, said: “It was 3.02am and he drove into the drive-thru Mcdonald’s and the person serving thought he was intoxicated so 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 then blew 90 in breath and further checks revealed he’d been banned for 40 months for drink-driving.

“He also has a drink-driving conviction from March 2013 and in 2014 and 2019 he was convicted of failing to provide and his latest ban was given in March 2023 when he was disqualified for 40 months, so he was driving again five months into his 40-month ban.

“So the three-year minimum ban applies.”

If anyone is caught drink driving more than twice within a 10-year period, sentencing guidelines mean they will be banned from driving for a minimum of three years.

Defending himself, Omaghomi said: “I am sorry about my actions.”

The magistrates then asked him what it would mean if he was sent to prison for the offence and why he drove.

He replied: “I knew I was disqualified and if I go to prison it will be terrible for my family as I am the breadwinner.”

He then told the court he was an engineer and earned £31k a year.

Magistrates said the offences did pass the custody threshold but they were prepared to suspend the term they were handing him.

As a result, Omaghomi was jailed for 16 weeks for the drink and driving while disqualified offences but the term was suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and attend 25 rehabilitation sessions with probation.

Omaghomi received no separate penalty for the driving with no insurance offence, but his licence was endorsed.

The Chairman of the bench said: “You waited until the last minute to plead guilty and you have an appalling driving record and we are banning you for four years as it’s not the first time.”

Omaghomi was also ordered to pay £650 court costs and a victim surcharge of £154 and will pay what he owes the court at a rate of £200 a month.