Friday 11 May 2012

'I'm Lovin' It': McDonald's Manager Groped Teen Girls


A sleazy McDonald's fast-food restaurant manager, who groped two teenage girls who worked for him at the Gatwick Airport franchise, dodged jailed with a three-year supervision order yesterday.

One girl was lured to to a meeting with 26 year-old David Hartwell on the pretext of trying on a new uniform design, but instead he exposed himself, undid her bra and sucked her nipple.

The second girl was alone in the office with the defendant when he groped her breast with his hand.

First-time offender Hartwell, of Rookwood Avenue, New Malden, Surrey was originally charged with sixteen sex offences against five young female victims between September, 2009 and August, 2010, but after a trial was convicted on two counts of sexual assault against two of them.

Prosecutor Mr. Ryan Richter told Croydon Crown Court the first victim found herself alone with Hartwell on August 22, 2010. "She was called in on a sunday afternoon to try on a new uniform and there was some activity in the office.

"The defendant exposed his naked penis and pointed it towards her, touching her.

"He undid her bra and sucked her nipple at one point."

The second victim also found herself alone with Hartwell. "They were having a discussion in the office when he reached across and touched, in her words: 'My whole boob' with his hand."

The trial heard Hartwell (pictured) groped young female staff "almost daily" at the restaurant and was arrested after one girl told her sister and a subsequent police investigation revealed more allegations.

The court was also told he encouraged his young staff to wear shorter skirts.

His lawyer Laura Plant said: "An immediate custodial sentence is something Mr Hartwell fears considerably.

"He did find the victim's evidence incredibly upsetting and was visibly distressed on a number of occasions."

Ironically before the trial Hartwell offered to plead guilty to more counts than he was convicted of, but this was rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC told the defendant: "This is a serious case. You were in a position of trust as manager of McDonald's and these two young women were in the sixteen or seventeen age bracket.

"Someone who has the responsibility of a manger has a duty of care to those who are vulnerable or younger and not able to ward off the sexual approaches of someone in a managerial role.

"You deserve to go to prison today, but it seems it would be a great deal more constructive to have a community order to deal with your misconceptions as to what behaviour is appropriate in relation to females."

Hartwell was sentenced to a three-year community order with a minimum 50 hours attendance at a Community Sex Offender Group Work Programme, which could be increased by an additional 190 hours.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years, obey an electronically-tagged six-month night time curfew between 9pm and 6am and pay £1200 costs.

"Many people would say you were fortunate, but I want to deal with you in a way that is fair to you and gives a better possibility of you not getting into this sort of trouble in the future."

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