A WOMAN has boasted of being the ‘most wanted’ dine-and-dasher, after allegedly cheating pubs and restaurants out of hundreds.
The serial offender has been caught on CCTV multiple times executing her plan as she hits venues in Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole.
Facebook/PinocchioChristchurchThe woman walked out on a £115 bill at Italian restaurant Pinocchio in Christchurch[/caption]
The pair came in with a child in a pushchairFacebook/PinocchioChristchurch
Across the past year she has been seen ordering expensive menu items, sometimes accompanied with men, and a toddler.
The dine-and-dasher, who appears to be in her 30s, then allegedly tries to pay but her card declines.
She claims to go to a cash point, but never comes back – or says the machine swallowed her card.
The woman, usually donning designer clothing, sparked outrage as she shared snaps of her meals on social media too.
When she uploaded a picture from Miller & Carter on Facebook, one person commented: “Aren’t you most wanted for restaurants.”
The shameless woman replied with three laughing emojis.
You don’t do that to people. She is obviously proud of what she does because she has done it so many times.”
Joanna Nowokunski
Her latest alleged target was the Chicken & Blues restaurant in Christchurch last week.
She ate with a man, who had short dark hair, and the duo racked up an £80 bill before it’s claimed she followed her usual routine.
Owner Josh Simons shared CCTV footage of the pair, and fellow industry staff claimed to recognised her immediately.
Mr Simons told the MailOnline: “This lady and gent visited Christchurch Chicken & Blues recently for lunch and ran up an £80 bill, which is plenty of food and drink for two people.
“After it appeared their card didn’t work, they then ‘had to visit the ATM’ and never returned, causing undue stress to our hard-working team.”
The fuming owner slammed the “notorious” couple, who are allegedly “habitual scammers”.
He said his reasoning behind the post was “raising awareness” and helping other local businesses.
“It doesn’t seem to be the first time they’ve pulled this trick, but if the community gets together, it would be nice if it’s the last time they get away with it,” Mr Simons claimed.
The disappointed owner offered the alleged dine-and-dashers a chance of redemption and asked them to donate £80 to the Bournemouth Foodbank, which he would match.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “It is reported that between 1.30pm and 2.35pm on Tuesday customers left Chicken & Blues in Church Street in Christchurch without paying for their food.
“The incident was reported to Dorset Police at around 2.10pm on Wednesday. Officers will be carrying out enquiries into this matter.
“No arrests have been made.”
‘She got aggressive and started swearing, saying f*** you’
Meanwhile, fellow restaurant owner Joanna Nowokunski, claimed her business was hit by the same woman last year.
Ms Nowokunski, who runs The Place restaurant in Bournemouth, said she appeared with a different man.
The “well dressed” pair ordered starters, a main course and the “best whiskey” on offer.
“When it came to paying their bill, which was about £80, their card declined,” alleged Ms Nowokunski.
The man left to find a cash machine, but the owner recalled becoming “suspicious” when he claimed it had eaten his card.
“They left a mobile number. I called it and reminded them they had to come back and pay. I then texted it and when I rang it again they had blocked me,” she claimed.
Ms Nowokunski allegedly spotted the woman a short while after and was lashed by a barrage of verbal insults.
“She got aggressive and started swearing, saying “f*** you” and showing the finger,” the owner claimed.
“You don’t do that to people. She is obviously proud of what she does because she has done it so many times,” she added.
MORE VICTIMS
Meanwhile, the owner of Pinocchio in Christchurch claimed the same woman targeted their Italian restaurant.
She alleged: “A man and a woman came in with a young child. They ordered a lot of food and drink, worth £115.
“Then they said their card wasn’t working and they would have to get some money out.”
After the man failed to return, the woman left with the pushchair.
‘”I called the police but nothing came of it. It is definitely the same woman who has done it to Chicken & Blues,” added the disappointed owner.
It comes as two men stuffed their faces with over £110 worth of food before fleeing a Vietnamese restaurant in a “perfect plan”.
They guzzled beer and gorged on spicy beef pho, rice and noodles for two hours at Viet80s in Nottingham.
But after telling staff they were nipping out for a cig – they jumped in a car and sped off without paying.
Elsewhere in the country, a pub was ravaged by a ‘dine and dash’ family of 12, who dodged a bill of £260 – including a steak and ten pints.
The Britannia Inn in Par, Cornwall, claimed that between 2pm and 4pm a family left while the waitress’ back was turned when it was time to pay.
Plus, the shocking moment a gang of pensioners appeared to distract staff to allegedly skip out on a £100 bill was caught on camera.
CCTV shows the party-of-four as they leave the Med-Mex Restaurant and Bar in Hornsea, East Yorkshire.
DINE-AND-DASH
If a customer or group ‘dine-and-dash’, they could be charged under section 3 of the 1978 Theft Act.
This deals with people who eat out and leave without paying.
It is considered theft if there is a failure to pay when it is known that payment is required for goods or services.
The offence can carry a prison sentence of up to two years.
At least six different eateries have been targeted by the serial dine-and-dasher in the past yearFacebook/PinocchioChristchurch Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
