Woman jailed for refusing to pay restaurant bill

Published on Friday 15 August 2008 10:32

A WOMAN released from prison after serving a sentence for refusing to pay for a meal at an Edinburgh restaurant has appeared in court again for the same offence.

Shirley Calder, 36, pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today to obtaining food and drink in the Bella Pasta restaurant in Hanover Street without paying or intending to pay.

Calder, who is homeless, walked into the restaurant just before midnight on Thursday and ordered a bottle of wine and a meal.

She remained there until closing time and when asked to pay the bill of 26.25, told staff she had no money and could not pay by card as her purse had been stolen.

Defence agent Duncan Hughes said Calder had no fixed address, received no benefits, had no family and had been homeless for the past three weeks having just been released from a custodial sentence.

She was jailed for two months in July for obtaining a meal, bottle of wine and a brandy at a Chinese restaurant in the city without paying or intending to pay.

The bill on that occasion was 25.75.

Sheriff James Farrell fined Calder 100, but having no money or address, she was jailed for seven days.