A Welsh couple who enjoyed lavish meals at restaurants and fled without paying the bill are now facing the consequences as they find themselves behind bars.
Bernard and Ann McDonagh, who were convicted of fraud, received prison sentences on Wednesday. They were found guilty of accumulating unpaid bills for extravagant meals, which included three-course menus, premium cuts of meat, and even indulging in double portions of dessert.
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Judge Paul Thomas, presiding over the case at Swansea Crown Court, described the defendants’ actions as motivated by “pure and utter greed.”
“You didn’t go to these places to provide for yourself and your family. It was pure criminality, a test to see if you could escape the consequences,” he explained. “Aside from the greed, there was undoubtedly a thrill in getting away with it.”
The judge condemned their actions as even more egregious, stating that they were “ruthlessly exploitative” in involving their own children in the scheme.
Whenever their bank card was declined due to insufficient funds, the parents would resort to leaving one of their six children at the table, pretending to retrieve money from an ATM.
The individuals who owed the payment never came back to settle their debts, and the kids eventually ran away and escaped in a nearby vehicle.
The couple, who covered their faces as they hurried into court, had already admitted to committing five counts of fraud. According to a prosecutor, they defrauded four restaurants and a Chinese takeout business, totaling nearly 1,170 pounds ($1,485). These fraudulent activities took place during the past fall.
The duo, who have a history of convictions and have used over 40 different names, were apprehended after restaurants shared pictures of them on social media.
Ann McDonagh, 39, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting to four counts of shoplifting. In addition, she confessed to obstructing a constable by falsely claiming she was nine months pregnant in an attempt to avoid jail time following her arrest. However, it was later revealed that she was not actually expecting a child at the time.
According to her attorney, Andrew Evans, she was experiencing grief 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 means to find solace and comfort for herself.
Bernard McDonagh, aged 41, received a prison sentence of eight months.
According to defense lawyer Giles Hayes, the husband expressed deep embarrassment and shame over the incident. He brought the money to court in order to reimburse the restaurants.
