A MUM-OF-TWO who refused to pay a £227 Wagamama bill argued it was her right – for one specific reason.
Greedy Rosemary McDonagh stuffed herself at the restaurant branch in Ashford, Kent with mates before fleeing when it came to pay.
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The dine-and-dasher, 23, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates court today where she defended her actions.
She argued a strand of hair in her meal meant she should not have to pay for it.
As reported by KentOnlineshe said: “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.”
The young mum-of-two, who is part of a travelling community and lives with her parents, added : “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.”
The court heard how Rosemary was previously handed a community order for stealing.
At her sentencing, she also admitted to thieving £190 worth of bedding from Dunelm last year.
Prosecutor Ranji Prashar said: “There were five or six others who ordered food, which came to £226.90, and the others left and it was her 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.”
Last Tuesday, McDonagh, of Barnhurst Road, Maidstone, admitted shoplifting and a charge of making off without payment in relation to the Wagamama offence.
She was fined £138 for the Wagamama dine-and-dash and ordered to pay the restaurant £50 compensation for her meal.
Rosemary was also ordered to pay Dunelm £150 compensation for the bedding she stole.
The chairman of the bench warned her: “This must stop or you will be in serious trouble. You have two young children to think about.”
It comes after a greedy family-of-eight were caught stuffing their faces with £329 worth of grub – only to leave without paying.
The shameless clan dined on T-bone steaks, over a dozen soft drinks, and delved into second helpings of dessert, when they visited the Bella Ciao Italian in Port Talbot near Swansea.
Bernard McDonagh, 41, and his wife Ann McDonagh, 39, were later pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.
Elsewhere, one woman boasted of being the ‘most wanted’ dine-and-dasher, after allegedly cheating pubs and restaurants out of hundreds.
The serial offender has been caught on CCTV multiple times executing her plan as she hits venues in Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole.
Meanwhile, two men stuffed their faces with over £110 worth of food before fleeing a Vietnamese restaurant in a “perfect plan”.
They guzzled beer and gorged on spicy beef pho, rice and noodles for two hours at Viet80s in Nottingham.
Plus, one pub was ravaged by a ‘dine and dash’ family of 12, who dodged a bill of £260 – including a steak and ten pints.
And, watch the shocking moment a gang of pensioners appeared to distract staff to allegedly skip out on a £100 bill was caught on camera.
DINE-AND-DASH LAW EXPLAINED
If a customer or group ‘dine-and-dash’, they could be charged under section 3 of the 1978 Theft Act.
This deals with people who eat out and leave without paying.
It is considered theft if there is a failure to pay when it is known that payment is required for goods or services.
The offence can carry a prison sentence of up to two years