Swansea: Family left restaurant without paying £329 bill

The owners of Swansea's Bella Ciao said they were targeted by a family who ran up a £329 bill

A family ordered T-bone steaks and double pudding portions then left without paying their £329 restaurant bill, it has been claimed.

Domenica Perico, who co-owns Bella Ciao with Giovan Cangelosi, in Swansea, called what happened "destroying".

Since posting CCTV footage online, the owners said they had had messages from other restaurateurs claiming they were "targeted" by the same family.

South Wales Police said it was investigating a number of reports.

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Mr Cangelosi said he phoned 999 after realising the family had left the restaurant without paying.

"They were ordering T-bone steaks, fillet steaks, double desserts, they wanted two brownies on a plate," said Mr Cangelosi.

Co-owner Giovan Cangelosi said one of the family's bank cards was declined before they left

"She [one of the customers] attempted to pay, but she got declined twice because she was paying with a savings account.

"She said to mum, 'I'm going to go to the car to get another card, I'll leave my son here as proof that you can trust me'.

"But he took off and ran."

The owners said it was a blow to the restaurant which only opened three weeks ago.

"We work hard, we put our heart into this," Ms Perico said.

Mr Cangelosi said T-bone steaks and double pudding portions were ordered

"When something like this happens, for us, it's completely destroying."

They warned others what happened on social media.

Mr Cangelosi said The River House, in Swansea, had been targeted by the same people.

The River House confirmed it reported an incident involving what they claimed were the same group to South Wales Police in August last year.

Ms Perico, pictured with husband and fellow co-owner Tyrone Rees, called what happened "destroying"

"They ordered the most expensive items on the menu and ran up a bill of around £270 for just five of them," a spokesman said.

Bella Ciao's owners said they wanted to move on.

Mr Cangelosi added: "After what happened, we decided to get stronger."

South Wales Police said it was investigating "a number of reports of making off without payment from several businesses".

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