Shropshire Star

Trio 'did a runner' after running up £321 bills at Shrewsbury restaurants

Three men gorged themselves in an Indian restaurant in Shrewsbury, racking up a £243 bill before fleeing the premises without paying, a court heard.

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Just three days earlier the trio had carried out a similar stunt at another restaurant in the town, with another bill of £78.

Mr Chris Coughlan, prosecuting at Telford Magistrates Court, described the men's actions as "bare-faced cheek" at the hearing of Ashley Jason Hill.

Hill, 45, of Meadow Farm Drive in Sundorne, Shrewsbury, had originally denied two offences of making off without payment, but changed his plea to guilty at the start of his trial yesterday.

His co-accused, Ian Covington, 32, of Meadow Farm Drive, Shrewsbury, and Ryan Scott Thomas, 19, of Field Crescent, Shrewsbury, had already been sentenced for their roles in the caper.

Covington received a three-year conditional discharge, while Thomas was given a 12-month community punishment order.

All three men were ordered to pay back their share of the bills to the restaurants, a total of £92.81 each.

Hill was given a 12-month community order and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay prosecution costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £60.

Mr Coughlan said their actions were "nothing sophisticated" and amounted to "doing a runner".

"They ordered drinks, food, had a good night out and walked out without paying," he said.

The men left behind a bill of £78.05 after a night at Frankie & Benny's on Battlefield Road in Shrewsbury on December 9 and then £243.20 at The Masala restaurant in St Julian's Friars on December 12.

Miss Emma Lineton, for Hill, said he was "embarrassed to be before the court for this matter".

She said that on both occasions the defendant had been under the impression that Convington was footing the bill.

"Rather than do the right thing and tell the staff, Mr Hill panicked and made his escape," said Miss Lineton.

She added that the defendant had recently lost his job but had also broken contact with the other two men.

"For a gentleman of his age it isn't sensible for him to be hanging around with these assistants," she said.

The court was told that Hill was in breach of a 12-month community punishment order that was due to expire in July this year, but magistrates took no action on this.

Much of Hill's previous offending was related to alcohol, the court was told.

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