Britain's most infamous 'dine and dash' couple have been sentenced to prison after admitting to dodging over £1,000 in restaurant bills across Wales. Bernard McDonagh, 41, and his wife

Ann McDonagh, 39, from Port Talbot, were caught on CCTV enjoying meals at various restaurants before fleeing without paying.

The couple, parents to three children, pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud, accumulating unpaid bills amounting to £1,168.10 across five establishments. Appearing at Swansea Crown Court, they received a combined sentence of 20 months in prison.

During their spree, the McDonaghs used 43 aliases and 18 different dates of birth to deceive the restaurants. Their crimes spanned a 30-mile radius, with Ann McDonagh admitting to a probation officer that they targeted restaurants beyond their usual means.

In addition to their prison terms, they were ordered to pay £2,185 in compensation, covering their unpaid restaurant bills and £1,017 for items stolen from shops. The couple also confessed to four shoplifting offenses, stealing goods worth £1,017.60 from stores including Tommy Hilfiger, Sainsbury's, and Tesco. Ann McDonagh also admitted to obstructing a police officer.

Ann has a criminal record with 18 convictions for 36 offenses, including fraud and theft. Judge Paul Thomas KC, who sentenced the pair, noted Ann's leading role in the scheme and described her as a "fluent and practiced liar." He remarked on the significant harm their actions had caused to the traveler community, reinforcing negative stereotypes.

One of the affected restaurants, Bella Ciao near Port Talbot, reported that a family of eight ordered steaks, desserts, and 15 bottles of fizzy drinks, even returning half-eaten dishes, before fleeing. Other local restaurants have also reported similar incidents involving the same family.

Leaving a restaurant without paying is a criminal offense in the UK, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to two years for those found guilty. Photo by Jack145945, Wikimedia commons.