Mum admits to £226 Wagamama ‘dine and sprint’ after ‘discovering hair in meal’

A mum-of-two has confessed to a ‘dine and dash’ at a Wagamama restaurant after refusing to pay the bill, claiming there was a hair in her meal. Rosemary McDonagh, 23, was dining with friends at an Ashford, Kent branch when they left her and another friend to settle what has been described in court as a £226.90 tab.

Instead of paying, McDonagh complained about the food and then left without covering the hefty bill, a court heard. The young mum was later arrested and last Tuesday (September 10) appeared before Maidstone Magistrates’ Court, where she pleaded guilty to the ‘dine and dash’ offence.

Prosecutor Ranji Prashar said McDonagh had finished eating at the Asian-inspired restaurant around 4.30pm on January 23. She stated: “There were five or six others who ordered food, which came to £226.90, and the others left and it was [McDonagh] and one other still there.”

“She then complained there was a hair in her dish and [the meal] was removed and she was offered another. But she refused to pay and then left the restaurant.”

“During interview, she made no comment.”

McDonagh was also questioned over the theft of bedding from a Dunelm store on December 27 last year.

The items – valued between £150 and £190 – were stolen from the store at the Ashford Retail Park. McDonagh admitted to both shoplifting at Dunelm and a charge of making off without payment in relation to the incident at Wagamama.

Defending herself in court, she claimed her life was upside down during the period she committed her offences, saying: “Back then, between December and April, I was in a bad relationship and my head was all over the place.”

“I did complain [in Wagamama] as I wasn’t happy to pay the bill for them.”

Expanding on her personal situation, McDonagh informed the court that she is part of the travelling community, living with her parents and her two little ones.

Continuing, she said: “I don’t work, I am on benefits and I get £600 Universal Credit a month.”

“I also get child benefits, but that’s for the kids, and I get PIP for my mental health – that’s about £400 to £500 a month.”

Despite previous thefts and being on a community order for such crimes, the magistrates chose to impose a financial penalty for her latest wrongdoings.

McDonagh copped a £138 fine for the Wagamama dine-and-dash and was told to cough up £50 compensation to the restaurant.

She managed to avoid paying for the rest of the meal left unpaid by her dining mates.

Moreover, she must fork out £150 compensation to Dunelm for stolen bedding, with no further punishment for that offence.

The bench chair gave her a stern admonition: “This must stop or you will be in serious trouble. You have two young children to think about.”