The 48-year-old gardener who slapped a teenage McDonald’s worker on the butt through the drive-through window as she turned around is convicted of sexual assault and given a 12-month community directive
- Karl Madden reached through his car window to smack the teen’s butt
- Madden’s sexual assaults resulted in the employee being humiliated and disabled
- He was sentenced to a community order and ordered to pay £150 in compensation
- The 48-year-old gardener once proposed dressed as a knight in shining armor
A landscaper who once proposed to his mistress disguised as a knight in shining armor sexually assaulted a teenage McDonald’s employee when he slapped her on the bottom while he was being served at a drive-thru.
Perverted Karl Madden reached through his car window and kiosk and touched the girl, who was left angry and humiliated by Madden’s unwanted advances, Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard.
The disgraced 48-year-old, who was previously jailed for five years in 2007 after being caught with 5kg of cocaine worth £200,000, admitted his latest crime when he appeared in court.
Michael Embleton, prosecutor, said Madden was with a passenger in the car that pulled through a McDonald’s driveway when the incident happened in December last year.
He said: “He went to the collection window, the victim was under 18. She turned her back to the window.”
Mr Embleton said Madden, of Melrose Avenue, Billingham, then reached through his own car window and through the drive-through kiosk window. He said: “He attacked the victim by hitting her on the bottom.”
Karl Madden, 48, turned out to be no knight in shining armor when he sexually assaulted a teenage McDonald’s employee. Here Madden is pictured in costume during a marriage proposal to his partner in 2012
Madden, who was previously jailed for five years as a drug mule, was getting a meal from a drive-thru while conducting the attack.
CCTV footage of the incident was shown to the court, showing Madden pretending to carry out the act and then actually slapping the teen’s butt.
Mr Embleton said: “The victim told the defendant some crossword puzzles, which is understandable given the circumstances.”
He said the teenager was so upset by the incident that she couldn’t continue her shift because she kept thinking about it.
“This happened at the victim’s place of work, in front of colleagues and friends. Not only was she attacked, she was embarrassed,” he added.
Landscaper Madden, of Melrose Avenue, Billingham, reached through his car window to smack the teenage girl on the backside, leaving her angry and humiliated
Teesside Live previously reported how Madden dressed up as a knight – armed with a helmet, sword and cloak – to propose to his partner in 2012.
Ciara Smith, defending herself, said Madden pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and fully regrets his actions. She said: “Mr Madden recognizes that this behavior is unacceptable in today’s society. He is fully aware of the impact this had on the victim.”
Ms Smith said the parole report says she seldom see anyone as remorseful as her client. She said: “It seems to be an isolated case.”
Ms Smith added: “The defendant has expressed a desire to pay compensation to the victim. He feels this is something he wants to do to apologize.’
Madden received a 12-month community directive with 25 days required for rehabilitation activities. He was ordered to pay £150 in damages and a £95 victim’s surcharge.
