Major update in ‘dine & dash’ saga as man & woman charged over ‘theft of £1,000 of food and drinks from restaurants’
COPS have charged two people over an alleged “dine and dash” eating spree after they were accused of hitting restaurants for meals worth more than £1,000.
It comes after restaurants posted appeals to identify a family allegedly ordering slap-up meals before fleeing.
Eateries across a 30-mile radius in South Wales were struck after up to eight family members tucked into large meals.
The pair allegedly ordered double drinks or deserts before failing to foot the bills.
They could face up to two years prison if found guilty for theft from the series of rogue restaurant eat-outs so far over the last eight months.
A South Wales Police spokesperson said today: “Two people have been charged with multiple offences following reports of several incidents of non-payment of restaurant bills and shoplifting.
“Ann McDonagh, 39, from Sandfields, Port Talbot, has been charged with five counts of fraud and four counts of theft (shoplifting).
“Bernard McDonagh, 41, from Sandfields, Port Talbot, has been charged with five counts of fraud.
Both will appear at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on May 8.”
The latest alleged hit was at newly-opened restaurant Bella Ciao in Swansea with a £329 bill – and they have done the same at other restaurants in South Wales.
Others including the Yard in Cowbridge, River House in Swansea and La Casone in Skewen have gone public with appeals for restaurants to beware.
The Somerset Arms in Port Talbot and The Longbow Beefeater in Pontyclun have also been named as alleged victims.
Last summer, the River House Lounge & Restaurant in Swansea also posted similar images onto its social media page after they had allegedly run up a “hefty bill” and did the same dine and dash act.
In total of the three restaurants targeted this year, the group have allegedly skipped out on bills worth nearly £800 – along with the £150 Indian meal bill and large bill from last year.
Leaving a restaurant without paying is a crime and carries a prison sentence of up to two years.