A McDonald's customer with 'severe allergies' challenged a manager to a fight after a row over his order - then spat in a police officer's face as he was escorted out, a court heard.

Leslie McDonagh had drunk six cans of lager before the incident, which unfolded in the fast food outlet on Oxford Street in Manchester city centre on Mad Friday.

Insurance worker McDonagh, who was calling in for food before meeting his wife for their wedding anniversary, had complained that kitchen staff had put onions on his Big Mac, magistrates were told.

An argument erupted and the 53-year-old ended up calling police on his mobile, reporting to an operator that he had got the 'wrong meal' and could not eat onions due to a 'severe allergy'.

"He specifically asked for something to not be in his food and it was. That is how this started", his defence lawyer told Manchester's magistrates.

"He felt McDonald's did not deal with it appropriately", she added.

McDonagh, who was said to be 'utterly embarrassed' to end up in court, admitted assault by beating of an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly in a public place and was sentenced on Thursday.

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

He was ordered to complete a 12-month community order with 120 hours' unpaid work. He was also fined £190.

The court heard how McDonagh, of Bolton Road, Atherton, Wigan, who works for a finance firm in Manchester, had left a work party early to meet his wife for their wedding anniversary - but called in to McDonald's.

"He recalls having around six cans which was out of the ordinary for him"

He claimed to have drunk six cans of lager in the run up to the incident, it was said.

The incident took place at around 10.30pm on December 21 - known as 'Mad Friday' - one of the busiest nights of the year as workers head to Christmas parties.

Prosecutor Paul Sumner said: "This incident happened at the McDonald's on Oxford Street in Manchester city centre.

"There has been a disagreement between the defendant and the staff. He was being aggressive with the staff members and the manager.

"The defendant stated that he got given onions on his burger and he wasn't happy with it so there had been a disagreement. He asked the manager outside for a fight.

"The defendant called the police himself. The police attended and in drink, he's requested them to take action against the staff at McDonald's.

"Police informed him that his food order being incorrect was not a valid reason to call them and they requested him to leave.

"They tried to escort him out of the premises, he's fallen to the floor and attempted to grab hold of the legs of the officer. The police then were able to hold the defendant by his arms in the scuffle and escort him out of the store.

"The officers were struggling with the defendant and whilst they were doing this, he spat in in one of the officers face. He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting an emergency worker."

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

In mitigation defence lawyer Claire Parrot: "One thing that wasn't clear is that it wasn't just an argument about the order being wrong, the defendant has severe allergies.

"He specifically asked for something to not be in his food and it was. That is how this started.

"He works for financial services and has had the same job for five years. He went out on a work night out on the night in question. He doesn't ordinarily drink and takes medication for a back injury. He recalls having around six cans which was out of the ordinary for him.

"He left early because that night was his wedding anniversary. He had this argument about his food and thought McDonald's did not deal with it appropriately. Of course he now realises that this was not a police matter. He called them as did the McDonald's staff.

"His memory of the incident isn't complete but he was quite clearly utterly embarrassed and ashamed. This was not a planned attack on the officer, he says that he's not a violent person."

McDonald's have been contacted for a comment.