Mum who 'dined and dashed' after complaining about hair in her food slapped with fine
Rosemary McDonagh claimed she had been in a "tumultuous relationship" when the offence occurred.
A mum who did a 'dine and dash’ from a Wagamama restaurant after claiming to have found a hair in her food has admitted an offence of making off without payment.
After ordering her to pay more than £150 in fines and compensation, the chairman of the bench at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court told Rosemary McDonagh, 23, any repetition would see her facing “serious consequences”.
McDonagh, 23, was dining with a group at the Ashford, Kent, branch of the restaurant chain when she and another friend were left to settle a bill.
However, instead of paying, she chose to complain about the food and then left the restaurant without settling the tab, the court heard.
McDonagh, a mother of two, was later arrested and appeared before magistrates on September 10, where she pleaded guilty to the offence of making off without payment.
Prosecutor Ranji Prashar explained that McDonagh and her party finished their meal at about 4.30pm on January 23.
He said: “There were five or six others who had ordered food, totaling £226.90. They left, leaving McDonagh and one other person behind.
“McDonagh complained about a hair in her dish. Although the meal was removed and a replacement was offered, she refused to pay and subsequently left.”
Throughout Ms Prashar's questioning, McDonagh remained silent.
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In addition to the Wagamama incident, McDonagh was also questioned about the theft of bedding from a Dunelm store on December 27 last year.
The stolen items, valued between £150 and £190, were taken from the Ashford Retail Park location. McDonagh admitted both the shoplifting charge and the dine-and-dash offence.
Representing herself in court, McDonagh described her difficult circumstances at the time.
She said: “Between December and April, I was in a tumultuous relationship, and I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I complained at Wagamama because I didn’t want to pay the bill.”
McDonagh elaborated on her personal situation, stating she is from the travelling community and lives with her parents and two young children.
She added, “I don’t work; I’m on benefits, receiving £600 a month in Universal Credit. I also receive child benefits and about £400 to £500 a month in PIP for my mental health.”
Despite McDonagh’s previous theft convictions and a prior community order, the magistrates opted to impose a financial penalty for her latest offences. She was fined £138 for the Wagamama incident and ordered to pay the restaurant £50 in compensation. She was not required to cover the bill accumulated by her fellow diners.
Additionally, McDonagh was ordered to pay Dunelm £150 in compensation for the stolen bedding but did not receive a separate penalty for this theft.
The chairman of the bench cautioned her: “This behaviour must stop, or you will face serious consequences. You have two young children to consider.”
