A couple from Wales who enjoyed expensive meals at restaurants and then fled without paying the bill is now facing the consequences as they have been imprisoned.
Bernard and Ann McDonagh were convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison on Wednesday. The couple had a habit of dining out and accumulating hefty bills that they never intended to pay. Their extravagant meals included indulging in three-course feasts, savoring the finest cuts of meat, and indulging in double portions of delectable desserts.
According to Judge Paul Thomas at Swansea Crown Court, their spree of dining and dashing was motivated by “pure and utter greed.”
The speaker emphasized that individuals didn’t visit these locations out of necessity to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Instead, they engaged in criminal activities solely for the sake of being involved in unlawful behavior and testing their ability to evade consequences. Moreover, the speaker expressed certainty that aside from the desire for financial gain, there was also a thrill factor associated with successfully getting away with these illegal actions.
The judge further criticized their actions, describing them as “ruthlessly exploitative” for involving their children in the scheme.
Whenever their bank card was declined due to insufficient funds, they would cleverly leave one of their six children at the table, pretending to go and withdraw money from the nearby cash machine.
The individuals who owed the money never came back to settle their debt, and the children eventually ran away and got into a waiting car.
The couple, who rushed into court with their faces covered, had previously admitted to committing five counts of fraud. According to a prosecutor, they cheated four restaurants and a Chinese takeout business out of almost 1,170 pounds ($1,485) in a series of crimes that occurred from last fall.
The duo, with multiple prior convictions and over 40 aliases, were apprehended when restaurants shared their pictures on social media.
Ann McDonagh, 39, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting to four counts of shoplifting. Additionally, she confessed to obstructing a constable by falsely claiming to be nine months pregnant in order to avoid being detained after her arrest. It was later revealed that she was not actually expecting a child at the time.
According to her attorney, Andrew Evans, she was going through a difficult time due to the loss of family members, although he did not provide further details. He suggested that she may have committed the crimes as a way to find solace and comfort for herself.
According to defense lawyer Giles Hayes, the husband expressed deep embarrassment and shame over the incident. He took the initiative to bring the money to court in order to reimburse the restaurants involved.
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