A couple from Port Talbot have pleaded guilty to failing to pay the bills at five different restaurants, amounting to more than £1,000. Bernard and Ann McDonagh have previous convictions for theft and fraud. They also owned up to thefts from two supermarkets as well as one count of obstructing or resisting a police officer.
Last month, CCTV showing the couple leaving a restaurant in Swansea without paying for a meal went viral, leading people to come forward with similar stories. The unpaid meals were at Isabella’s in Porthcawl, River House in Swansea Docks, Golden Fortune in Port Talbot, Bella Ciao also in Swansea and La Casona in Skewen.
The owners of Bella Ciao, where the couple’s £329 bill was left unpaid, spoke about the incident, saying that the couple ordered T-bone steaks and double pudding portions before leaving, leaving them feeling dismayed. The manager expressed satisfaction after the hearing, highlighting that they had received support from “all over the world”.
Bernard McDonagh and Ann McDonagh have been released on bail pending sentencing, which is due to be held at Swansea Crown Court on 29 May.
It is not the first time that food and drink establishments have experienced customers who fail to pay. In 2021, a woman in the US was shamed after leaving a $5,000 bill in a restaurant, having caused a commotion before leaving the premises. This has led to some establishments introducing upfront payments or website-based payment methods to avoid fraud
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