A MAN who dined out in style at a number of Somerset pubs and then did a runner before paying the bill was trapped after leaving his mobile phone number at one of the venues while making his reservation.

Damien John Evans went to pubs near Bridgwater, Huish Episcopi and Sherborne accompanied by two females.

On each occasion he set up a tab at the bar, enjoyed a meal and drinks and then scarpered from the scene making his escape in a car before the owners realised he hadn’t paid up.

However, one of the victims realised he had left his mobile phone number at one of the pubs when booking a table and police traced the defendant and arrested him.

Evans, 37, of Manor House Farm, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, pleaded guilty to making off without payment for food and drink from the Rose and Crown in Huish Episcopi on April 26 valued at £56.80 on June 25.

He also admitted similar offences at the Kings Arms Hotel in Charlton Horethorne involving food and drink worth £105 on June 25; food and drink valued at £89.30 from the Ring O’ Bells at Moorlinch, near Bridgwater, on June 12 and goods worth £60 from the Red Tile Inn at Cossington on June 23.

When he appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates they were told that the defendant had also been subject to a suspended prison sentence for a matter of non-dwelling burglary at the time of the committing the first offence and was now in breach of that.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that all four offences were committed over the period of a couple of months and each time Evans went to the pubs concerned along with two females.

“Every time they ordered food and drinks after starting up a tab behind the bar but then managed to leave without paying for it,” she said.

“Throughout the investigation the police were told that the defendant and females left in either an Audi or Citroen vehicle.

“However Evans actually left his mobile phone number at one of the locations while booking a table which was how he was found.”

During interview the defendant accepted his guilt saying he had been with a group of friends and thought it was 'a good idea at the time'.

Miss Lenanton said the earlier offence had now put him in breach of a 16 week suspended sentence order imposed at Taunton Crown Court for a matter of burglary.

Defending, Louise Eaves said the previous offence had been of a very different nature and he had since completed the order satisfactorily.

The magistrates said the case should be sent to the crown court as the suspended sentence had been imposed there.

They adjourned all matters until August 10 when the defendant will be sentenced by a judge and in the meantime ordered the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report.

Until then he was released on unconditional bail.