Mansfield, Nottinghamshire—In a bizarre sequence of events, a local man’s desperation for food led to a series of criminal acts captured on surveillance footage. Scott Goulding, 24, was caught on CCTV breaking into a McDonald’s and stealing food before escalating his criminal behaviour to arson.
On January 4, 2024, at approximately 1:20 a.m., Goulding was loitering outside a McDonald’s branch in Mansfield. The footage shows him smashing a window to enter the fast-food restaurant. Once inside, Goulding grabbed a brown paper bag of food and fled. The following morning, restaurant staff discovered the broken window and the stolen items.
The situation took a more dangerous turn two days later when, on January 6, emergency services responded to a fire at Shireoaks Court in Mansfield. The blaze, reported around 5:30 a.m., forced residents to evacuate, with one woman jumping from a window to escape. Firefighters found Goulding lying outside the building, intermittently conscious, and he confessed to starting the fire.
Investigators discovered that Goulding had created a makeshift bonfire in his flat using a Christmas tree, a mattress, and tables. The fire could have devastated the residential building and its occupants. Fortunately, quick action by emergency services prevented severe injury.
Goulding admitted to burglary and arson charges and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on April 19, 2024. Detective Constable Kate Hardy of Nottinghamshire Police condemned Goulding’s actions, highlighting the severe risk posed to the community. “Arson is always a grave and reckless offence. Setting fire to a flat in a residential area shows a blatant disregard for the safety of others,” Hardy stated. “It is only through good fortune that no one was seriously injured or worse. We take break-ins and arson very seriously, and I am pleased the court has imposed a significant sentence.”
This is when a hungry burglar broke into a McDonald’s drive-thru to steal food.
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