A married couple have been charged with fraud after they were caught on CCTV leaving Bella Ciao Italian restaurant in Swansea without paying.
Bernard McDonagh, 41, and his wife Ann McDonagh, 39, have been charged with five counts of fraud and four of shoplifting.
How it Happened?
It comes after staff at the say a family-of-eight left the establishment without paying for their meal on Friday evening,
On Friday, the couple ordered expensive steaks, double desserts and 15 bottles of pop for their family-of-eight (racking up a £329 bill) but started to send back a number of half empty plates, which raised eyebrows among staff members.
CCTV footage went viral over the weekend, with more than 12 million people viewing the post.
How They Escaped
In the footage, a mother was attempting to pay with a savings account card which was declined twice.
She then told staff that her son would wait inside while she went to get her ‘other card’, but did not return and soon after, her son also disappeared.
There was no way the family-owned restaurant could contact them since learned the number they used to take the booking was allegedly ‘fake’.
Meanwhile, this is not their first time of carrying out the evil act – they are serial diners and dashers.
The restaurant’s manager, Tyrone Reese, reported the incident to the police and they were able to tracked down through CCTV.
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What Will Happen to Them?
The couple faces a prison sentence of up to two years.
They were arrested and were released on bail and will appear before Swansea magistrates on May 8.
