Man who refused to pay for meal and drinks in Thanet pub is jailed

A man who consumed food and drink worth almost £100 in a Thanet pub and refused to pay for it has been sentenced to two weeks in prison.

Anthony Lamont, 45, admitted to the offence before Folkestone magistrates.

Lamont had ordered a meal and alcoholic drinks for himself – totalling £89.45 – at the Charles Dickens Pub in Broadstairs on Thursday 16 July.

When asked to settle his bill, he told staff he had no means to pay, but had texted a girlfriend asking her to come to the pub and cover the cost for him.

Police were called to the venue shortly before 5pm that afternoon.

Officers attended and Lamont was swiftly arrested. He was charged the following day with making off without payment.

Lamont, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty when he appeared before court on Saturday 18 July. He was immediately sentenced to 2 weeks’ imprisonment.

Kent Police Inspector Matthew Vick said: “Lamont’s actions were a brazen attempt to take advantage of a local business, but thanks to the swift response of pub staff, officers and the courts, he found himself behind bars just two days later.

“This case demonstrates our commitment to protecting communities from this type of crime, which can have a significant impact on local businesses. We work closely with retailers and hospitality venues so that offenders can be held accountable, and to send a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated in Kent.”