Dine and sprint couple jailed after fleeing eating places with out paying £1k payments
A notorious dine-and-dash couple has felt the full rigours of the law after a campaign that saw them gorge £1k of food and drink and flee without settling their bills.
Married pair Bernard McDonagh and Ann McDonagh, both of Sandfields, Port Talbot, Wales, previously admitted five offences of fraud relating to food and drink orders, Swansea Crown Court heard today (May 29). Ann has received 12 months in prison and Bernard eight months.
The offences took place in south Wales between August 2023 and April 2024 and the couple previously admitted also shoplifting £1,017 in goods from Tommy Hilfiger, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
READ MORE: Repeat dine and dash couple swerved £2k bills after ordering T-bone steaks and booze
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC said that apart from “greed” the couple was also motivated by a “buzz,” noting he was satisfied that Ann was the leader of the pair, describing her as a “fluent and practised liar”.
Perhaps the biggest splurge came at Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Swansea, where CCTV footage showed mother-of-three Mrs McDonagh attempting to pay the bill with a savings account card, which was declined twice.
(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
The crafty swindler told staff her son would wait inside while she went to get her ‘other card’, but she did not return and moments later the boy had also done a runner.
Their campaign of dining and dashing started on August 9 last year, when they dipped out on a £267 bill at River House restaurant in Swansea.
(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
This was followed by failing to pay a £99.40 bill at Golden Fortune, Port Talbot, on January 31, 2024, and a £267.60 bill at La Casona restaurant in Skewen on February 24, 2024.
Up next was a £196 bill at Isabella’s restaurant Porthcawl, on March 27, before the offence at Bella Ciao where the couple failed to pay a £329 bill.
(Image: PA)
Ann McDonagh, who has has 18 convictions from 36 offences including fraud and theft, also previously admitted thefts from two supermarkets as well as one count of obstructing or resisting a police officer.
There were also robberies from big supermarkets. Her husband also has previous convictions for theft.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
