A couple in South Wales, UK, has been apprehended and charged with multiple counts of fraud following accusations from restaurant proprietors that they absconded without settling their bills. The duo, identified as 39-year-old Ann McDonagh and 41-year-old Bernard McDonagh from Sandfields in Port Talbot, Wales, allegedly indulged in complimentary meals at five different restaurants, accumulating debts exceeding £1,000 (approximately Rs 1,04,170.50 in Indian currency).
Their arrest follows an outcry from restaurant owners who circulated CCTV footage on social media platforms, seeking assistance in identifying the couple. The couple is currently in police custody and is slated to appear in court next month to face charges related to fraudulent activities spanning a 30-mile radius. Additionally, Ann McDonagh faces four charges of theft in connection with the incidents.
Accounts from restaurant owners and managers reveal a pattern wherein the couple, accompanied by a small child, ordered substantial meals and purportedly attempted to settle the bills with a card that was subsequently declined. Subsequently, while one member of the group would distract the staff, others would hastily depart, leaving Ann McDonagh and the child behind. However, moments later, Ann would allegedly abscond, leaving the establishment without making payment.
Despite the outcry from affected businesses, the South Wales Police initially did not classify the matter as an emergency. However, an investigation into the incidents is now reportedly underway.
