‘Dine and Dash’ couple ‘attack’ feuding Sussex restaurant staff | United Kingdom | News

In a shocking incident caught on CCTV, an alleged assault on restaurant staff broke out following a dispute over bills at La Bella Vista in St Leonards-on-Sea. Footage from last weekend shows a man in red and a woman in black clashing with employees trying to force them out.

The woman is seen throwing glasses and cutlery before ripping off a table top and smashing it to the floor. Emilia Esposito, the administrative manager of the Italian restaurant, recounted this heartbreaking experience on Friday, October 18.

She revealed: “During the meal they behaved strangely – refusing to make eye contact and asking for off-menu items. They also asked for their drinks to be very strong. They became increasingly rude and disrespectful to us throughout the meal.

“They complained about the food after they finished their main courses, saying it was disgusting. They then said they weren’t going to pay, and since this had happened to us before, we insisted that they “That’s when they started paying” and the situation escalated. The man chased after our boss and attacked him. behind the bar and started pushing him.

“The woman then picked up and smashed our glass tables in front of the restaurant. Our boss has visible cuts on his face, the staff has bruises where they were trying to defend the restaurant and our boss. It’s a scary incident. We “all teamed up, but it’s scary – and it’s never something we expected.”

Restaurant manager Kat Cmokova told the BBC: “The owner, my boss, had a dislocated finger and cuts on his face. And the rest of the staff had bruises. My colleagues keep coming to me see to tell me that they found other bruises during the night. They are black and blue.

The restaurant also posted about the incident on Instagram. Sussex Police said a 39-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, common assault and assault.

She has since been released on bail pending further investigations. Police are still trying to identify another suspect.

The force said: “On Saturday October 12, at approximately 5.40pm, officers responded to a report of a woman and man fighting with staff and damaging property inside a restaurant in Grand Parade, St Leonards. A further report was made to police that a weapon had also been used to threaten staff following a dispute over payment of their bill.

“Police officers arrested a 39-year-old woman from nearby Crawley in Saxon Street on suspicion of criminal damage, common assault and assault. She was taken into custody and has since been released on bail. bail under strict conditions pending further investigations.”

Sussex Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage that may assist their investigation to contact us, either online or by calling 101 and quoting reference 917 of 10/12.