A former lawyer accused of a series of 'dine and dash' offenses has been arrested after allegedly fleeing the country. Kerry Stevens, 40, is accused of leaving multiple restaurants and taxis without paying. She faces 11 counts of making off without payment and one count of theft from a shop.
Stevens had been the subject of four arrest warrants and reportedly failed to appear in court on at least nine occasions before leaving the United Kingdom. During this period, she is believed to have traveled to Lorraine, in north-east France, where she may have stayed with a family member. In May, Stevens posted images on Facebook that appeared to show her at Disneyland Paris.
Essex Police announced Stevens' arrest on August 30. She was subsequently remanded to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on August 31. Stevens is now scheduled to stand trial at Ipswich Crown Court on November 9, and she has been ordered to surrender her passport.
An Essex Police spokesperson confirmed that Stevens was arrested in connection with outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court. "We are no longer looking for Kerry Stevens, who we wanted to speak to in connection with outstanding warrants for failing to appear at court," the spokesperson stated.
Stevens and her partner, Daniel Alani, a 42-year-old electrician, are alleged to have targeted several establishments. Alani has pleaded guilty to theft, theft from a shop, and eight counts of making off without payment. One restaurateur, Steve Yeung of The Pearl Dragon, claimed the couple left his establishment with a £127 bill.
