When this man went out for a steak dinner, he probably didn’t expect it to cost him £2,000.
Alas, that’s the hefty penalty Johnny Delaney was slapped with after attempting to dine and dash.
The 44-year-old ended up with the four-figure bill for his £250 slap-up meal after eating at Stubbs in Ashford, Kent, accompanied by a woman and two children.
CCTV captured Delaney leaving without paying, walking across the car park with a child.
It’s reported he then got into a Volkswagen Passat Estate and drove off after the incident in November last year.
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Staff at the steakhouse say Delaney ordered a large meal of steaks and cocktails and had zero complaints but later tried to claim the food was cold and contained a hair.
Since they all finished their meals without raising the issue with staff, they were still handed their £252.82 bill.
Police ultimately arrested Delaney, and he was charged with making off without payment contrary to section 3(1) of the Theft Act 1978.
According to the restaurant, he initially denied the accusations twice before pleading guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on August 12.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and was ordered to pay the full bill total in compensation, plus a victim surcharge of £114 and £1,630 in court costs.
Stubbs restaurant has emphasised that dine-and-dash is not a victimless crime, and they have been targeted by many other incidents since opening.
Sally Newman, the senior general manager, said: ‘As we approach the end of our first five years of opening Stubbs, this successful conviction marks a significant milestone for our team.
‘In our first year, we sadly suffered up to two incidents a week of individuals deliberately leaving without paying. This kind of theft places an immense emotional and operational strain on me and my hardworking colleagues.
‘However, thanks to the absolute tenacity and professionalism of the Ashford police service, alongside the massive, unwavering support from our guests and the local community, these incidents have now virtually ceased.’
Managers hope this ‘sends a clear message’ to the town that such behavior will not be tolerated.
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