Warning to licensees after pair bilk pub

Women enjoy slap-up meal before doing a runner

TWO young women ordered the finest food and drink from an Ashmore Green pub before bolting without paying the bill.

The pair abused the trust of staff at the Sun In The Wood and proprietor Lauren Davison said: “It's the first time in my 25 years here that this has ever happened. It's very sad because we are trusting. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried this again, so I'd urge other publicans to beware.”

The incident happened on Saturday evening when the women, both aged around 19, sat down for a meal at 7.50pm.

Mrs Davison said: “They ordered starters plus the most expensive items on the menu - beef Wellington and fillet steak - then followed it with our most luxury desserts and the cheeseboard.”

“They had both had a few drinks and certainly shouldn't have been driving afterwards. They put us off guard by the way they kept going out for a smoke and then coming back in again.”

Around 9.30pm the pair left without paying their bill of more than £100 but it is not known whether they drove themselves or had an accomplice.

Mrs Davison said: “They seemed very confident and sure of themselves. I was offering them tasters of our wines because I like to be hospitable. In hindsight they were running up a huge bill and it was all premeditated.

“It's very sad because it does knock your faith in people but we don't want to become untrusting. I suspect they will try it again.”

The first woman is described as very overweight and around 5ft 7in tall with teeth braces and a metal stud piercing above her top lip. She was wearing a black ‘hoodie' top and cap emblazoned with ‘Kennet School Leavers ‘10' plus a beige body warmer and black ‘jeggings' (jean leggings).

Her dark hair was tied back in a ponytail and she wore a black headband with black flower.

The second woman was also described as large but not so overweight and around 5ft 5in tall. She wore a striped top of different shades of blue plus leggings and she had dark, bobbed hair.

Mrs Davison said: “If anyone can help with any information that leads to a conviction, we'd offer a reward.”

Any information should be passed to Thames Valley police, who are investigating the incident and who can be contacted on 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively the Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.