A couple has been sentenced to prison for dining and dashing at five restaurants, exploiting their children to evade bills exceeding £1,000.
CCTV footage of Bernard McDonagh, 41, and his wife Ann McDonagh, 39, eating without paying at a Swansea restaurant gained widespread attention last month. The couple, hailing from Sandfields, Port Talbot, pleaded guilty to failing to settle their bills from August 2023 to April 2024 at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.
Ann received a 12-month prison sentence for her role, which included thefts from two supermarkets and resisting arrest. Bernard was sentenced to eight months. They are required to pay a total of £2,185.70 in restitution, including £1,168 for unpaid restaurant bills and £1,017 for stolen items.
The court revealed that the couple used over 40 aliases and 18 different dates of birth as part of their fraudulent activities. Judge Paul Thomas KC stated their actions were driven by “pure and utter greed” and involved premeditated schemes.
The judge criticized the couple’s use of their children during these incidents, highlighting the “ruthlessly exploitative” nature of their actions. One of the targeted restaurants, Bella Ciao, reported a £329 bill for a lavish meal that went unpaid.
Additionally, Ann McDonagh was found to have stolen hundreds of pounds’ worth of goods from stores, including two thefts from a Tommy Hilfiger outlet, where she concealed items in her jacket.
The court also noted that Ann had previously lied about being nine months pregnant while in custody to secure her release. Both defendants had a history of theft offenses, with the prosecution emphasizing Ann’s more extensive criminal background.
During sentencing, Judge Thomas remarked on their deliberate course of dishonesty and the exploitation of their children, stating they had been coached to assist in the scheme.