An Indian restaurant owner has told how a family seen walking off without paying a £215 bill "did the same to him". The claim comes after two couples with a baby and toddler were captured on CCTV leaving The Fisherman's Arms near Penzance, Cornwall, on Father's Day after failing to pay their bill.
Manager Lucy said a male approached the bar to enquire about the bill before saying he was going for a cigarette and leaving. The family of six had enjoyed a three-course Sunday roast with cocktails and food for the kids before fleeing.
Upon realising the scam, the pub tweeted a picture of the family "doing a runner". Lucy told the Mirror: "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."
Restaurant owner Karim Ullah has now expressed his shock over the footage after recognising two of the group members. Ullah, who owns Brohmon restaurant in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, claims the family pulled a similar trick on him claiming to be going for a cigarette and leaving him with an unpaid £182.15 bill.
The 50-year-old told MailOnline: "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.
"I’m disgusted by what they did to me and what they did to this pub."
Ullah says the incident happened around two months before the incident in Cornwall on April 29. Officers were informed and provided with CCTV footage but later told the out-of-pocket owner that they would not be taking further action.
He has urged police to take action.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "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."
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