Christopher Baker, from Houghton-le-Spring, England, released his pet rat after dining out alone on Valentine’s Day to get a free meal. Instead, he ended up in court.
Christopher Baker
Fraudster Baker, 28, pulled the rodent from his pocket after paying for his 7.25 pounds ($11) buffet meal and a bottle of water at the Borneo Bistro in Sunderland, the Daily Mail reports.
Baker, left, pulls rat from pocket
Lee Poppett, the prosecutor on Baker’s case, told Sunderland Magistrates’ Court:
“At shortly before 4pm [Baker] suddenly jumps up and shouts ‘It’s a rat. I’m not eating here, I want my money back.’ ”
Within seconds, every customer was out of their tables and on their feet while staff scrambled to catch the rat.
Poppett added that Baker claimed the rat had bitten his finger while he ate.
The restaurant’s owner, Kevin Smith, 48, said that Baker could’ve ruined his business and its pristine reputation that took him several years to build up all because of a few pounds. Borneo Bistro has a five-star rating, is top-rated on Trip Advisor and attracts Premier League footballers.
The prank was immediately disputed as Smith smelled, well, a rat, and because Baker was caught on closed-circuit TV releasing his pet and putting it on the floor. Smith caught on quickly that the black and white rodent was a pet because it was clean, and “It looked like it had just had its hair done.”
Pest control experts later agreed that the animal was domesticated after taking it away. Smith was able to track down Baker from the CCTV recording, and Baker was charged with fraud. Smith said:
“We have never had trouble with pests before, and then one scumbag comes along like that.”
Baker pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. He was sentenced to 12 months of community service and ordered to pay the restaurant the 7.25 pounds back, as well as a victim surcharge of 60 pounds ($90).
