On May 16, a couple dined at The Halfway House restaurant in Brentwood, Essex, where they racked up a bill of £231.30 after consuming two steaks, starters, sides, ice cream, and 14 Baby Guinness shots. CCTV footage revealed that the couple requested a table near the back door, which restaurant manager Deanne Perkins believes was a premeditated move. After finishing their meal, the woman left through the front door while speaking on the phone, and the man checked for staff presence before escaping through the back. Perkins reported the incident to the police and shared the footage online to alert other businesses. The woman later returned to pay £90, but the man has yet to pay the remaining £141.30. This incident is part of a growing trend of dine and dash cases in the UK, raising concerns for small businesses like The Halfway House, which rely on regular customers.