A woman who left two restaurants without paying for food and drink has been fined £1,400.
Natalie Margaret Grabe-Zaremba, aged 30, of Castle Court Apartments, Castletown, admitted two counts of obtaining services without payment.
Grabe-Zaremba left the Shore Hotel in Gansey without paying a £23.90 bill and Comis bar at Mount Murray, Santon, after racking up a £98 bill.
High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ’These were extremely mean-spirited and dishonest offences.
.png?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
’Both hotels gave you an opportunity to pay later but you didn’t.
’Businesses on the island struggle enough without people like you. They are quite disgraceful offences.’
Prosecutor Hazel Carroon told the court that both bills still remained unpaid despite the offences occurring on August 29 at the Shore Hotel and December 31 at Comis.
The court heard that Grabe-Zaremba had told a previous advocate who represented her that she had since paid the two bills then said she thought her husband had paid it.
She was also said to have told probation she could pay back £75 per week then told her advocate she could only afford £20 per week.
The probation report was critical of Grabe-Zaremba saying that she created ’convoluted stories’ and probably didn’t remember what she had said herself.
Defence advocate Jane Gray said that Grabe-Zaremba’s only other conviction was a motoring one and asked for credit to be given for her immediate guilty pleas.
Ms Gray said: ’It was a relatively low value, £121.90.
’She is expecting a baby in May so community service would not be suitable. She has told me £20 per week.
’She said at the time she offered £75 her husband was bringing more money into the home.’
High Bailiff Mrs Hughes was also critical of Grabe-Zaremba saying: ’She knew full well she hasn’t paid it.
Compensation
’If she was truly remorseful she should have done that right away.
’Ms Gray has spoken of your remorse, unfortunately you haven’t demonstrated your remorse at all by making any payments to the hotels.
’You’ve not been entirely truthful with the court or probation.
’You’ve not even bothered to make the payments before coming to court today.’
Grabe-Zaremba was ordered to pay the £121.90 in compensation to the hotels forthwith and the £1,400 fine plus prosecution costs of £125 at a rate of £50 per week.
If Grabe-Zaremba fails to make either payment she could face up to 90 days in custody in default.