A 23-year-old woman has admitted to doing a ‘dine and dash’ at a branch of Wagamama restaurant. Rosemary McDonagh refused to pay the £226.90 bill, claiming she found a hair in her meal. Reportedly, McDonagh’s friends had left her and another friend to settle the bill, but instead of payment, she complained about the food and left without covering the hefty bill. McDonagh was later arrested and appeared before magistrates on September 10, where she pleaded guilty to the offence.
During the court hearing, prosecutor Ranji Prashar detailed that McDonagh finished eating at the Asian-inspired restaurant around 4.30pm on January 23. Prashar stated that McDonagh was among a group of five or six individuals who ordered food, totaling £226.90, with the others leaving, leaving McDonagh and one friend behind. McDonagh then reportedly complained of a hair in her dish, which was replaced, but she still refused to pay before exiting the restaurant. Despite being questioned over the dine and dash incident, McDonagh was also linked to the theft of bedding from a Dunelm store on December 27, valued between £150 and £190.
In court, McDonagh shared that she was in a troubled relationship between December and April, contributing to her actions. She explained her dissatisfaction with paying the bill at Wagamama, mentioning her financial situation of receiving £600 in Universal Credit monthly, along with child benefits and PIP for mental health. McDonagh, with previous theft convictions and a current community order, was fined £138 for leaving Wagamama without payment. She was also ordered to pay £50 in compensation to the restaurant and £150 to Dunelm for stolen bedding.
Despite avoiding paying for the remaining portion of the meal and receiving no additional sanctions for the theft, the magistrates warned McDonagh to cease such behaviour, especially considering her responsibility towards her two young children. The incident serves as a reminder of the repercussions of attempting to evade payment for services consumed and the legal consequences that follow such actions.