A man accused of skipping out on a £215 bill on Father's Day says he is innocent.
A group of people were filmed allegedly dining and dashing at a Cornwall gastropub over the weekend, sparking outrage on social media.
Footage shared online shows two couples with a baby and toddler enjoying an expensive Sunday lunch and cocktails before leaving without paying.
One member of the group was named on social media but has denied the allegations, the Mirror reports.
After the shocking incident went viral, another restaurant boss claimed the same group had dined and dashed at his establishment.
The incident happened at The Fisherman’s Arms in Newlyn, Cornwall, on Sunday after the group enjoyed a three course roast and cocktails to the cost of £215.
The pub shared footage and images of the group online after they left without paying.
But after being identified by people as one of the wayward diners one man identified on social media said they were wrong and he was not involved.
The 23-year-old refused to provide any further information after denying he was the bearded man in the blue T-shirt seen in the viral footage.
He accused another group of being responsible, without providing any details, and told the Mirror: “I don't have time for this, I'm at work."
He also claimed that after speaking to The Fisherman’s Arms they had removed their social media posts about the dine and dashers.
The posts have not been removed.
The Fisherman’s Arms have been approached for comment.
The man was identified by a number of social media users after the pub tweeted about the incident.
Speaking to the Mirror, pub manager Lucy said that after their meal one of the men approached the bar and enquired how much their bill was.
She said: "One of them came up to the bar, had a look at the bill and said the women were in the toilet.
"He said they were going out for a cigarette and would come back to settle up, but they left.
"The women weren't in the toilet, they had already left.
"They are not from round here, you want to trust people, but this wasn't an accidental walk off.
"You can see one of the men shushing the other as they walk away on the CCTV."
Lucy said this was the first time the restaurant, which had only been open seven months, had been left short.
She then told the Daily Mail : “I have worked in the industry 14 years and this is the first time it’s happened to me, we have had people accidentally not pay and they always ring back and make it right.”
Shockingly Karim Ullah, who runs the Brohmon restaurant in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, claims the same thing happened to him at his Essex restaurant - and he recognised two of the diners.
He said he was "disgusted" by the incident at his restaurant on April 29 that saw a group run up a bill of £182.15 then leave without paying after claiming they were going for a cigarette - just like the Cornwall group.
He told the Mail : "As soon as I saw the images, I knew that it was the same people who did a runner from my restaurant.
"I’ll never forget them, especially the man with the bushy beard, who I spoke to and the woman in a denim jacket."
Devon and Cornwall Police previously told the Mirror "Police are aware of an incident where it is alleged that a group of people left The Fisherman’s Arms in Newlyn without paying their bill, late afternoon on Sunday June 18.
"Enquiries continue into this matter. Anyone with any information that could assist the police is asked to contact 101."
Police have been approached for further comment regarding Mr O'Reilly's comments.
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