Woman skipped out on restaurant bills

A woman who twice walked out of restaurants without paying her bill has been fined more than ten times the original cost of the meals.

Natalie Margaret Grabe-Zaremba of Castle Court Apartments on Farrant’s Way in Castletown faced two charges when she appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas Courthouse.

The 30 year old admitted two counts of obtaining services without payment.

The court heard on August 29 she left the Shore Hotel in Gansey after running up a £23 tab, and last New Year’s Eve she walked out of the Comis Hotel in Mount Murray to dodge a £98 bill.

Despite telling a probation officer she’d since cleared what she owed, the hearing was told she hadn’t paid a penny.

Mrs Hughes said that showed a total lack of remorse, and told her Manx licensed premises struggle enough without people skipping out on their bills.

She ordered Grabe-Zaremba to pay £121.90 compensation immediately or face serving up to 90 days in jail.

She also fined her a total of £1,400 and ordered her to pay £125 prosecution costs.