{"id":144096,"date":"2023-12-08T15:09:08","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T15:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity-hub.com\/?p=144096"},"modified":"2023-12-08T15:09:08","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T15:09:08","slug":"dine-and-dash-conman-fled-gastro-pub-without-paying-his-600-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity-hub.com\/world-news\/dine-and-dash-conman-fled-gastro-pub-without-paying-his-600-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Dine-and-dash conman fled gastro pub without paying his \u00a3600 bill"},"content":{"rendered":"
A serial dine and dash conman fled from a gastro pub without paying his bill of \u00a3600 for a two night gourmet stay \u2013 just before he ripped off a historic hotel with the same name.<\/p>\n
Craig Sharp, 52, made headlines this week after he failed to pay his \u00a3452 bill which included three meals and 26 pints during a three-night stay at the Angel hotel in Halesworth, Suffolk.<\/p>\n
But MailOnline can reveal that just days earlier he conned the Angel pub which is acclaimed for its fine dining around five miles away in the village of Wangford near Southwold, Suffolk.<\/p>\n
Sharp of Harwich, Essex, tucked into lavish meals at the pub, washed down with numerous beers, and even bought rounds of drinks for locals which he added to his bill.<\/p>\n
But he slipped away in the morning without settling his bill of \u00a3600, and when staff tried to take payment on his debit card, they found that no funds were available.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Serial dine and dash conman Craig Sharp (pictured) fled from a hotel without paying his bill of \u00a3452<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He enjoyed three meals and 26 pints during a three-night stay at the Angel hotel in Halesworth, Suffolk<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sharp\u2019s huge bill at the 16th century Angel Hotel included 15 pints of Birra Moretti<\/p>\n
It was revealed yesterday that Sharp has a long record of dishonesty, dating back to 1993 and has served at least four prison sentences for fraud including dine and dash offences.<\/p>\n
Sharp booked one night at The Angel in Wangford in November, using his own name and his real address at his parents\u2019 home, before arranging to stay a second night<\/p>\n
Bradley Coote, who works at the pub, said: \u2018He ate with us and enjoyed quite a large amount of alcohol. I served him on one night. He was very charismatic.<\/p>\n
\u2018He got himself on first name terms with all the staff members and was buying people drinks at the bar.<\/p>\n
\u2018Funnily enough, he seemed a really nice guy. He was very chatty and friendly, and just really down to earth.<\/p>\n
\u2018He told us he would come down in the morning and pay his bill, which is completely normal for a lot of customers, but it didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n
\u2018When he disappeared, we tried to charge his card, and it gave us a big \u201cNo\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018When we saw the report of him doing the same thing at the Angel in Halesworth, we talked to them and realised he was the same guy who had come to us.\u2019<\/p>\n
Staff at the Angel pub have since reported their dine and dash case to Suffolk Police who are said to be investigating.<\/p>\n
The website for The Angel at Wangford says it has \u2018seven well appointed, comfortable en-suite bedrooms full of character.\u2019<\/p>\n
It describes itself as \u2018perfectly located\u2019 and \u2018a cosy pub where, for centuries, locals have been supping their pints and travellers finding a place to rest their weary heads after a wonderful feast\u2019.<\/p>\n
The website adds: \u2018Delicious meals made from the best local seasonal ingredients, brought by our friendly front of house team, ensuring you have a wonderful time while you\u2019re with us.\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He also conned The Angel in Wangford in November after booking a one night stay<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sharp has served at least four prison sentences for fraud including dine and dash offences<\/p>\n
The current menu includes main courses of braised beef short rib with caramelised miso onion, braised sesame potatoes, broccoli and miso juice priced at \u00a320, and venison haunch, celeriac dauphinoise, smoked celeriac puree, charred hispi cabbage and dark chocolate jus at \u00a322.<\/p>\n
Sharp\u2019s huge bill at the 16th century Angel Hotel in Halesworth included 15 pints of Birra Moretti, eight pints of Guinness, seven rum and cokes, three pints of Aspall cider, five bags of Mini Cheddars and three meals and other sides.<\/p>\n
He tried to avoid suspicion by praising staff and buying them chocolates at the family-run hotel.<\/p>\n
But the owners became worried after he slipped away early on his final day, and sent an email saying he would return later in the morning to pay.<\/p>\n
When they never heard anything back from him, they realised he had conned them and released CCTV pictures of him inside and outside the hotel.<\/p>\n
MailOnline revealed yesterday that the thirsty fraudster was Sharp who admits he has a \u2018horrendous\u2019 criminal record including a string of jail sentences for dine and dash scams.<\/p>\n
In a similar con to his fraud in Wangford, he booked his first \u00a375 night in the hotel online, using his real name and his real address.<\/p>\n
Mr Sharp did not come to the door when a MailOnline reporter called at his parents\u2019 semi-detached house on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
When the reporter asked to speak to Craig, his father Barry Sharp 77, refused to say if he was in the house, and would not confirm or deny if he was the man on the CCTV.<\/p>\n
After being shown the CCTV of the man with a distinctive bald patch at the hotel, Mr Sharp said: \u2018I\u2019m not at liberty to say anything to be honest with you. I\u2019m not saying a word.<\/p>\n
\u2018I mean, there is other things that are going on. That\u2019s all I can say.\u2019<\/p>\n
When reminded about how his son had been jailed at least four times for dine and dash offences, he said: \u2018It was a long while ago.\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Sharp agreed when the reporter suggested that his son might be suffering from mental health problems, saying: \u2018Exactly\u2019.<\/p>\n
The father added: \u2018Nobody knows the situation do they. I\u2019m not condoning what he has done in the past.<\/p>\n
\u2018He has done his time. We don\u2019t know what\u2019s happened do we. It\u2019s a long story. Put it that way. That\u2019s all I\u2019m going to say.\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sharpadmits he has a \u2018horrendous\u2019 criminal record including a string of jail sentences for dine and dash scams<\/p>\n
MailOnline revealed on Thursday that he has pulled the same trick at a series of other hotels and up-market restaurants.<\/p>\n
Sharp was already serving a prison sentence when he was jailed for a concurrent two months by magistrates in Colchester, Essex, in May 2017 after he admitted two counts of making off without payment at two glitzy hotels.<\/p>\n
He pre-paid for a two night stay at the boutique Blue Ivy Hotel in North Hill, Colchester, on January 8 and 9, 2017, before arranging a third night and then leaving without paying the outstanding \u00a3202.<\/p>\n
When police were notified, they realised he had committed a similar offence at the Milsoms Hotel and Restaurant in Dedham, Norfolk, in November 2015, when he left without paying \u00a3251.15 for food and drink, and a one night stay.<\/p>\n
Representing himself in court, he tried to claim that he had tried to make amends to Blue Ivy, saying: \u2018I knew I could not pay the bill for the third night. \u2018<\/p>\n
He added: \u2018I contacted the owner afterwards and paid \u00a345 but then realised there was no way I could pay the remainder.<\/p>\n
\u2018I told him it would be dribs and drags over many months and the only way forward was for him to go to the police.<\/p>\n
\u2018At Milsoms, I paid a \u00a350 deposit on a card but knew I could not pay the rest.<\/p>\n
\u2018At the time I did not care an awful lot what I was doing or the hurt I was causing myself or other people.<\/p>\n
\u2018When I book in, I give my own details. I knew they would find me and I was burying my head in the sand. I hope I can be in prison, get myself sorted and come out with a clean slate.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n
Sharp went on: \u2018I am unhappy with myself and who I am. There was a six year break in my offending when I moved to Scotland which proves I can knuckle down and get on with things.<\/p>\n
\u2018My record is horrendous, but I am drawn towards doing these things. I give all my correct information and know I am going to get caught in the end.<\/p>\n
\u2018Both my parents are 70 and have had health problems but they have said when I am released, I can go back and live with them.<\/p>\n
\u2018It is up to me to get back to how I was six or seven years ago when I was doing well.\u2019<\/p>\n
Sharp was reported to have been jailed for more offences in 2018, before being imprisoned yet again for 48 weeks by Ipswich magistrates in May 2021 after failing to pay bills totalling \u00a32,579.82 at four luxury hotels.<\/p>\n
The court heard how he booked a two-night stay at the Crown in Bildeston, Suffolk, on February 25, 2020, using his own name and bank details, and charged food and drink to his room.<\/p>\n
He requested another night\u2019s stay, and left behind a bill of \u00a3494.85<\/p>\n
Sharp headed the same day to the timber-framed 15th century Swan Hotel in Lavenham, Suffolk, where supermodel Claudia Schiffer stayed before her wedding.<\/p>\n
He gave his own name and bank card, although he gave a false address in London, before fleeing without paying his bill of \u00a3887.57.<\/p>\n
Sharp then arrived on March 2 at the seaside Brudenell Hotel in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, where he racked up an unpaid bill of \u00a3491.20.<\/p>\n
Finally, he had another seaside break at the Caley Hall Hotel, in Hunstanton, Norfolk, after asking if he could pay on departure.<\/p>\n
He told staff he was going out for the day, but when his room was checked, all his belongings had gone, and he had left an outstanding bill of \u00a3706.20.<\/p>\n
The Caley Hall Hotel closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and when it reopened in July, attempts were made to contact Sharp and get him to repay the money. He provided bank details to staff but they were rejected.<\/p>\n
Paul Baker, defending Sharp, said he had been caring for his parents who were not in good health, and \u2018things just got on top of him\u2019 and he needed to get away from home.<\/p>\n
Companies House records reveal that Sharp set up his own car valet business called CRS Valet Ltd, registered at his parents\u2019 home in May last year.<\/p>\n
The firm which has never filed accounts, faced a compulsory strike off notice in August this year after it failed to file a notice confirming that he was still sole director. The notice has since been suspended.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sharp has a string of dishonesty convictions dating back to 1993<\/p>\n
Angel Hotel manager William Tennant, 24, said he had alerted Action Fraud after Sharp failed to pay his \u00a3210 accommodation bill and \u00a3242 for food and drink.<\/p>\n
Mr Tennant said: \u2018It\u2019s disappointing. More than anything, we look after people well here all the time, you\u2019ll find plenty of witnesses of that.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s obviously some sadistic game he likes to play or an addiction he\u2019s got if he\u2019s been doing it for so long. So that\u2019s sad really, to be honest.<\/p>\n
\u2018He\u2019s obviously a sad man. He even bought chocolates for us to thank us for our hospitality. It\u2019s not a small amount of money, and turnover wise, you have to earn a significant amount more to get that back, profit-wise.\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Tennant said Sharp had been \u2018very complimentary\u2019 to staff during his stay and had spent his evenings sinking pints at the bar.<\/p>\n
But he now believes this was simply a way of ensuring his \u2018brazen\u2019 scheme went unnoticed .<\/p>\n
He added: \u2018He was just businessman-like. He was a middle-aged bloke. He was chatty and friendly.<\/p>\n
\u2018He was polite and very complimentary to our staff, saying how amazing he had been treated, how lovely everything was, how content he is.<\/p>\n
\u2018He originally just booked in for one night. I suppose that was him scouting out how many extras he could put onto his room without paying for them.<\/p>\n
\u2018He sat with his back to the camera in the bar, which looking back must have been an intentional thing.<\/p>\n
\u2018There\u2019s CCTV footage of him everywhere. I thought he was too brazen to be a con man. People tend to be a bit smarter if you actually try not to be caught.<\/p>\n
\u2018He started on Aspall, then he had Moretti and Guinness. It worked out about eight pints a night.\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Tennant said staff became concerned when the man slipped out during the morning on November 23 before promising to return and pay in an email.<\/p>\n
When they searched his name online, they found reports of his jail sentences for other dine and dash scams.<\/p>\n
Mr Tennant said: \u2018It\u2019s not impossible to leave without anyone seeing you. It\u2019s a small hotel so he didn\u2019t show up for breakfast.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018He emailed to say, \u201cSorry I had to leave in a rush, I\u2019ll be back in time to check out and settle my bill, can I stay another night?\u201d or something.<\/p>\n
\u2018We then thought this is a bit weird now. And then we Googled him and we saw him – and realised this is the guy. We never heard from him again.\u2019<\/p>\n