Anthony Lamont, 45, has been sentenced to 120 days in jail, suspended for one year, for a series of dine-and-dash incidents. His most recent offense occurred on July 16 at The Charles Dickens pub in Broadstairs, where he consumed nine pints, three double vodkas, and fish and chips. When the bill for £95.80 arrived, Lamont claimed he could not pay and had texted a girlfriend to cover the cost. Pub staff, suspicious of his story, called the police.
This marks the third time Lamont has been apprehended for evading restaurant bills. On June 17, 2024, he consumed a similar amount of food and drink at The Royal Hotel in Deal, accumulating a £95.80 bill. He attempted to use a friend's supposed hotel reservation to cover the cost, but hotel records showed no such booking. Staff prevented his departure, and police were called.
Prior to these incidents, Lamont had also committed a dine-and-dash offense at Don Vincenzo, an Italian restaurant in Rochester. There, he ordered seafood linguine and Jack Daniel's, amassing a £100 bill. He told staff he was unable to pay for the meal. For this offense, he received a suspended sentence, as it was his first.
Lamont admitted to theft charges for the incidents. The court heard that his offense at The Royal Hotel occurred while he was on a suspended sentence for the Don Vincenzo incident. In addition to the suspended jail sentence for his latest conviction, he was ordered to pay the restaurant £100 in compensation. Kent Police Inspector Matthew Vick stated that Lamont's actions were a "brazen attempt to take advantage of a local business" and commended the swift response of pub staff, officers, and the courts in holding him accountable. He added that the police work closely with local businesses to ensure offenders are brought to justice and to deter such behavior.