Man jailed for failing to pay for meals across Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk

A man from Hadleigh has been sentenced to eight months after he admitted a series of incidents where he failed to pay for meals he had consumed at various restaurants.

Alan Rogers, of Market Place, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court today (August 27). He was sentenced to a total of eight months’ imprisonment.

At an earlier hearing on July 23, the 46-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation at court. One on September 10, 2020, in Ipswich, one on September 5, 2020, in Aldeburgh, and one in Norwich between July 22, 2020, and November 18, 2020.

He was first arrested, along with a 43-year-old woman from Sudbury, in Ipswich on November 18 last year on suspicion of making off without payment.

As well as the three offences above, he also made admissions to another 15 offences of fraud by false representation that were also taken into consideration when he chose to work with the Operation Converter team. These other 15 offences took place between January 17, 2020, and October 28, 2020.

Twelve of these offences took place in Suffolk, two in Essex and one in Norfolk with the total cost of the fraud calculated to be over £1,200.

They took place at restaurants and pubs at Long Melford, Lavenham, Aldebugh, Felixstowe, Halstead, Wreningham in Norfolk, Hintlesham, Hadleigh, Great Tey, Ipswich, Washbrook, Sproughton, Preston St Mary and Monks Eleigh.

Duncan Etchell,s of the Operation Converter team, said: “The selfish actions of Rogers and his so called ‘dine and dash’ offending would have caused considerable distress and frustration to the proprietors of all the pubs, restaurants and other eateries he visited.

“These were businesses who, at the time, were no doubt struggling to make ends meet in the wake of the covid pandemic with the lockdown affecting the food and drink trade so to see Rogers receive this sentence is very satisfying.”

No further action was taken against the 43-year-old woman.