BRITAIN’S worst “diners” have been jailed after skimming restaurant bills worth more than £1,000.
Bernard McDonagh (41) and his wife Ann McDonagh (39) were caught on camera attacking a series of restaurants across Wales.
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Bernard McDonagh and Ann McDonagh skipped five different meals Credit: WNS
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The mum was filmed trying to use the savings card, which was repeatedly declined. Credits: WNS
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Ann McDonagh, 39, has been charged with five counts of fraud and four counts of theftCredit: South Wales Police
The shameless couple, who have three children, ran up bills totaling £1,168.10 at five different restaurants.
They were today jailed for a total of 20 months after pleading guilty to five counts of fraud at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.
The pair also admitted four counts of shoplifting after stealing goods worth £1,017.60 from Tommy Hilfiger, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
Ann McDonagh pleaded guilty to a further count of obstructing a police officer.
She has 18 convictions for 36 offences, including fraud and theft, while her husband also has a history of theft.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC told Ann McDonagh she played a “major role” in the fraud and was a “fluent and practiced liar”.
He also said the couple had caused “significant harm” to the traveling community by their behaviour, which could “encourage and reinforce negative stereotypes in some people”.
He added: “If your community is, as I’m told, appalled by your behaviour, they have every right to be.”
Swansea Crown Court heard the couple would use a card they knew would be declined for “pay” and then leave one of their children at the restaurant as a sign they would be back.
The couple then fled the scene along with their “bait” children.
They used 43 different aliases and 18 different dates of birth to scam restaurants within a 30-mile radius in Wales.
Their streak of meals and outings finally came to an end when footage of them leaving Italian restaurant Bella Ciao without paying their £329 bill went viral.
They joined six others at the bar to dine on expensive plates of T-bone steaks and fancy desserts before heading out for a run.
The group, who also drank 15 bottles of champagne, raised suspicions when they kept sending back half-eaten plates.
CCTV showed the mother trying to pay with a savings account card, which was declined twice.
She then told staff her son would wait inside while she went to get another card, but the group disappeared.
In a statement to the court, owner Giovan Cangelosi said: “When it happened I felt stupid and robbed and I really struggled about it.
“I doubt the customers and worry that it could happen again.
“My father and I even talked about changing the dynamic of the restaurant so that people pay first before they sit down and eat, but I didn’t want to do that.”
After more than 12 million people watched the video, other restaurants came forward to reveal that they too had been targeted.
Among them was a Chinese takeaway that ran out of £99 after a couple ordered a huge meal home.
The pair also fled the River House restaurant in Swansea without paying a £267 bill.
They also failed to pay a £196 bill at Isabella’s Porthcawl restaurant and a £267.60 bill at La Casona restaurant in Skewen.
Ann McDonagh told probationers she specifically targeted fine dining restaurants because “they weren’t something she would normally be able to afford”.
As well as the prison terms, the pair were ordered to pay £2,185 in compensation, £1,168 for unpaid restaurant bills and £1,017 for items stolen from shops.
Crown Prosecution Service Cymru said: “The thefts by McDonagh’s have had a devastating impact on local family restaurants.
“These companies, already facing numerous challenges, have suffered financial losses and emotional distress as a result of the McDonaghs’ actions.
“They were brought to justice today.”
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Bernard McDonagh, 41, has been charged with five counts of fraudCredit: South Wales Police
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The couple skipped bills totaling £1,000 Credit: WNS
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Their antics were caught on CCTVCredit: WNS
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