Get you up to speed: Laughing gas motorist pleads to eat chips after McDonald’s drive-through arrest | News UK
Imtiaz Ali, 46, was arrested on November 2 at Newport Retail Park, Wales, while in his car at a McDonald’s drive-through, with seven boxes of nitrous oxide canisters and a hammer. He pleaded guilty to multiple drug-related charges and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
Police also found cannabis and three additional mobile phones at Ali’s address during the search. Nitrous oxide was classified as a class C drug in November 2023, following which Ali was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to multiple charges.
Gwent Police stated that Imtiaz Ali was apprehended after being observed driving erratically, leading to the recovery of nitrous oxide canisters and other illegal items from his vehicle. Following a guilty plea for multiple charges, including possession with intent to supply nitrous oxide, Ali was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on 4 November 2026.
What remains unclear — It is unknown whether Imtiaz Ali’s prior offences contributed to his decision to plead guilty.
Driver arrested for drug offences pleads to finish McDonald’s chips
A driver begged to ‘chomp’ on his McDonald’s chips as he was arrested on multiple drug-related charges.
Imtiaz Ali, 46, was arrested in Newport, Wales, with seven boxes of nitrous oxide canisters, unopened balloons, and a hammer inside his car.
However, when police approached him on November 2, he was reportedly more concerned with finishing his dinner.
‘You’re not going to be chomping on chips while I’m searching you,’ the officer replied.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Gwent Police’s Community Action Team also searched Ali outside of his car at Newport Retail Park, seizing a large amount of cash and a mobile phone.
After searching his address, they also recovered cannabis and three more mobile phones.
But Ali, of Ebenezer Terrace, Newport, appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 4 November when he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation – a class C drug.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and possession of a controlled drug of class B – cannabis.
Ali was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
PC Sam Hall, from Gwent Police’s Community Action Team, said: ‘We spotted this defendant driving erratically and took the decision to stop his car while he was a customer parked in the drive-through area of McDonald’s.
‘We recovered a hammer close to the driver’s seat and 42 large and unopened nitrous oxide cannisters, also known as NOS or laughing gas, from the boot of the car.
‘Nitrous oxide, also called NOS, is a colourless gas used in medicine, dentistry and the catering industry, and was made a class C drug in November 2023.
‘The evidence of Ali’s illegal dealing of nitrous oxide was overwhelming; he had little option but to plead guilty to the charges he faced in court.
‘Ali was out on licence at this time of these offences and was profiting from the sale and supply of illegal drugs that cause fear, suffering and pain to vulnerable people and their families.’