Dine and dash man 'put own hair on plate'

The manager of a restaurant said he was left in shock after CCTV footage appeared to show a customer pulling out his own hair and planting it on his food before refusing to pay.

The alleged case of dine and dash happened at The Dial in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, on 11 February.

General manager Jez Hives said two men ordered some of the most expensive items on their menu, then walked out without settling the bill.

Police said they were investigating and asked anyone with information to contact them.

The pair ordered a £70 steak for two, which one of the men ate by himself, as well as a £40 fillet steak, sides and cocktails, Hives said.

After eating part of their meals, the men approached staff with their plates and complained there was hair in the food.

They then refused to pay and left the restaurant at about 20:30 GMT.

Similar cases are known as dine and dash, when customers wrack up significant food and drink bills and leave without paying a penny.

When Hives arrived at work the next day and was told what had happened, he said he thought the situation seemed unusual and decided to review their CCTV footage.

He then saw what appeared to be one of the men pulling hair from his head and putting it on his plate.

"There was clumps of hair within the dish, and upon inspection of the CCTV the next morning, I found out he'd been picking his own hair out of his head and seasoning his steak with it," he said.

"It is unbelievable that someone would go to that length to get free food.

He added that the man used foul language and "shock techniques" to confuse staff.

The alleged "dine and dash" was reported to Staffordshire Police, who said they were investigating and asked anyone with information to contact them.

Mr Hives said he later shared the CCTV clip on TikTok and was contacted by a restaurant in Newquay, Cornwall, which sent him footage that appeared to show the same two men allegedly carrying out a similar act last year.

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