Dine and Dash

Wrong-un’s on every level.

What an example to set their children, introducing them into criminality at a young age.

maytime2

Given the size of the couple I don't think they "dashed" anywhere. They are from the travelling community, and although they live in an ex council house probably think that it's O.K. to get one over what they call the "gorger" community.
In this area the majority of travellers now live in houses and not mobile homes.

I think the name gorgers suits them better given what they did 😂

Typical behaviour of gypsies. They have no respect for laws of the land and do as they please. We have come across them many times, they used to turn up every year when we lived up North set up camp on the farmers fields from us, ruining the crops, having bonfires and leaving all their rubbish behind for the farmers to pay to have removed. Here in Dorset same thing except here they bash down barriers to set up camp every year at local country park. And don't get me started on all that lot in Essex near Wickford.

I think Scoffing and Stealing covers it because that’s exactly what they’re doing…STEALING!

It’s no better than shoplifting which is also STEALING (yes AR you included) and all the other ways people take things they haven’t paid for and as importantly, have no intentions to do so.

There are lots of ways of earning money (including prostitution) which are more honest than stealing IMO

Given the size of the couple I don't think they "dashed" anywhere. They are from the travelling community, and although they live in an ex council house probably think that it's O.K. to get one over what they call the "gorger" community.
In this area the majority of travellers now live in houses and not mobile homes.

Joy riding, another misnomer.😡

Dickens

I think calling it "Dining and Dashing" gives it an air of derring-do... the media do this sometimes - find a catchy phrase to describe something totally despicable.

They are not dining - they are pigging-out and then running off... they are low-life criminals.

I agree, it’s like romanticising highwaymen in a way.
I like ‘pigging out and running’ off much better as it’s a cowardly act.

I agree, M0nica. Their previous convictions will have counted against them, as will the media attention the case has attracted. I don’t think that there will be cases where someone forgetting to pay will be jailed for a first offence.

Years ago a friend and I were having coffee when she remembered an appointment and we had to leave quickly. In our haste we completely forgot to settle up, but both remembered within the hour. By closing time we’d both (separately) phoned the cafe and sent children round with money to pay the bill. The cafe owner was amused at our honesty, particularly as we were regular customers and could have paid at our next visit. These things happen, but not on the scale of the ‘dine and dash’ couple. It was particularly reprehensible of them to involve their children in their crimes, too.

Given their history
Swansea Crown Court heard the pair used more than 40 aliases and 18 dates of birth as part of the fraud. They were also convicted of shoplifting £1,000 of goods

The court heard Bernard McDonagh had 27 previous convictions for 40 offences, while Ann McDonagh had 18 previous convictions for 36 offences.

I would suggest with that record they have been and done the full range of community service punishments and the that the judge, faced with a criminal history like this, had almost no alternative to gaoling them.

Consider the situation where a single man or woman came into court on these charges and with these records, would your response be any different.

Judges have a detailed sentencing manual that they are expected to conform to, and, as I said, when dealing with incorrigible thieves like this couple, what is the alternative.

May be the experience of 6 months behind bars, will at least limit what they do hereafter, even if it doesn't stop it.

Yes I too think a sort of long community sentence would have been better than prison (if they go) .

Get them out there in full view of the public and let the public let them know their views.

M0nica

I think the custodial sentence was because they both have a long previous history of theft and dishonesty and because the crimes were very carefully planed and executed using the children.

Would not using the children be tantamount to abuse? Deliberately involving them in their crimes where they had little chance to do anything other than what they were instructed to do?

Personally, I don't think they are fit to be parents as they clearly do not have their children's welfare at heart.

I know, I know, people will say that families should be helped and encouraged to stay together. But unless the parents 'turn their lives around' (as the saying goes) what chances in life will these kids have?

I think the custodial sentence was because they both have a long previous history of theft and dishonesty and because the crimes were very carefully planed and executed using the children.

I feel a bit that maybe they were made an example of, 'pour encourager les autres', which I expect it will. Would be surprised if many custodial sentences handed out for this.But good that they were caught & dealt with.

MOMB
I am glad the thieving pair got a custodial sentence. Also I see it that the children will see that their parents done wrong, and that they are paying the price for it. Might deter them following suit.
These people have no respect for anyone.

Dickens

I think calling it "Dining and Dashing" gives it an air of derring-do... the media do this sometimes - find a catchy phrase to describe something totally despicable.

They are not dining - they are pigging-out and then running off... they are low-life criminals.

That's a really good point Dickens. It is catchy but it sounds like something to emulate.Scoffing & conning better.

I agree it is a despicable crime. However I am not sure they need a custodial sentence. Those should be reserved for people who are a danger to society. I think a prolonged community service maybe washing up in a restaurant or similar would be better. I think they should have to reimburse every penny stolen and be heavily fined. It is also difficult if they have parental responsibilities. We imprison far too many people. Our prisons are bursting at the seams. One of my sons is a prison officer.

I think calling it "Dining and Dashing" gives it an air of derring-do... the media do this sometimes - find a catchy phrase to describe something totally despicable.

They are not dining - they are pigging-out and then running off... they are low-life criminals.

I wonder why they don’t do as many hotels do - ask for cc details when booking, or on arrival.

They both had a long history of dishonesty and theft. The woman more than the man.

I think the case that I really think took the biscuit, the female barrister who got struck off who'd been dining and dashing. On one occasion she ordered food from some Deliveroo type organisation, and when the food was delivered, told the guy she'd already paid, she hadn't, shut the door in his face once he'd handed over the meal. Then that poor person had whatever she owed deducted from his money, how appallingly mean Although it probably wasn't Deliveroo, I've been around my son when he's placed such an order and I'm pretty sure he gave his credit card details at that time.

Good, when my children were very young I did waitressing to earn extra money, the job was very hard, as my tables were upstairs and the cooking down stairs, we also had to watchout for runners, people who ordered food and did not pay.
I had it happen to me once and got told very firmly I should have watched these people. The restaurant lost alot of money.

These people set a shocking example to their children. I hope they enjoy the food where they are. Horrible people and no excuse. If they want to wine and dine like that they should work like I had to do to make ends meet.

Such behaviour is disgusting no wonder lots of kids grow up ferrol.

They used to take the children with them. Ordering T bone steaks that the children didn't eat.

Peculiar behaviour. It must have just been a real thrill for them.

Very pleased they've got prison time

Our local Nextdoor app reported that last week at a local burger drive through had been hit by thieves. After placing orders and paying people had their orders snatched as they picked them up.
The staff at the drive through kindly replaced the meals and said there is no use reporting it. The police station closed down years ago in the area and the nearest is eight miles away. They have been informed of this theft many times and don’t do anything about it anyway.

All restaurants should ask for payment as soon as the food order is placed. In coffee bars, you choose the sandwich, coffee etc you want and then pay at the till so why is it so difficult for restaurants not to do the same. Even when ordering food at the table, once the order is placed the waitress or waiter should ask for payment, this will stop thieves in their tracks and stop police time being wasted by looking for these thieves.