Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Sunderland news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A serial nuisance has been banned from entering a McDonald’s fast food restaurant following a relentless run of anti-social behaviour that has seen him arrested on more than 500 occasions.

Mark Herron, 52, has exhausted police resources and caused misery to businesses in Sunderland during a prolonged spell of offending dating back to 1995.

His behaviour – which has led to more than 500 arrests – has included assaulting and threatening staff in McDonald’s on Roker Retail Park and being drunk and disorderly across the city.

After serving a string of short-term custodial sentences and referrals to assist with his alcohol misuse, Herron has now been subjected to a court order that compels him to clean up his act.

(Image: Northumbria Police)

Herron, of Grosvenor Street, Sunderland, has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) until October 2022 which forces him to work with Wear Recovery to address his alcohol issues.

The order requires Herron to attend all appointments as set out in a treatment programme and cooperate fully, or face re-arrest and possible imprisonment. He is also banned from setting foot in McDonald’s on Roker Retail Park for the next three years.

Inspector Donald Wade, of Northumbria Police , said: “Mark Herron’s offending has been frequent and widespread and often his behaviour has been intrinsically linked with his alcohol abuse.

“He has been a drain on police resources for some time and his violent and aggressive behaviour has brought misery to the people of Sunderland.

“Since 2015, he has been arrested on a number of occasions because of his anti-social behaviour at McDonald’s on Roker Retail Park, and he was handed a suspended sentence earlier this year for assaulting a member of staff.

“But Herron has not learnt his lesson and the public should not have to endure his shocking behaviour any longer. This order is a final opportunity for Herron to clean up his act and get his life back on track.

“The conditions of this order compel him to engage with a dedicated service that can help him overcome his alcohol misuse, and by putting strict conditions on Herron’s movements, we hope to restrict his behaviour and protect those most affected by his recent actions.

“If Herron ignores any of the conditions of this order, we will not hesitate to arrest him and put him back in front of the courts, who will then have greater powers to deal with him.”



The order is the first obtained by the Force's Southern Harm Reduction Unit, which among other priorities is tasked with tackling alcohol and drug-fuelled crime and disorder across Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Herron received the three-year order after appearing before magistrates in South Tyneside October 1 for a contested CBO hearing.

The court was told Herron's behaviour had shown no sign of improvement in recent months, with alcohol misuse an overriding factor in his prolific offending.