A spate of 'dine and dash' incidents in Hexham and Corbridge has prompted a police investigation. 

Several restaurants and bars in local towns have been affected by a customer who is dining and not paying the bill.

Businesses including Cilantro in Hexham, The Valley in Corbridge and The Angel of Corbridge have reported that a woman has dined at their establishment and left without payment.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of three reports at restaurants in the Hexham and Corbridge areas of Northumberland of a customer making off without payment.

“The incidents are believed to have taken place on February 18, April 13 and April 26.

“It was reported that in all three instances a woman has attended and dined at the restaurant. She has then asked to make payment later on, but has failed to return.

“Enquiries into the reports are ongoing.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact us quoting log NP-20240610-0766.”

The Valley Group, originally set up by Daraz Aziz in 1991, owns The Valley in Corbridge, The Valley Junction 397 in Jesmond, and Cilantro in Hexham. 

Cilantro, a fusion Indo-Latino tapas restaurant, is run by Daraz's son Nabil.

Nabil said both Cilantro and The Valley were affected on April 13 and April 26, respectively.

"We didn't think anything of it. She booked a table for one on a Saturday night [at Cilantro] online under her name. When it came to paying for the meal, she said she'd lost her card and she was very apologetic. 

"There was nothing of concern for us - she gave all her contact details. About four or five days in, she called us to let us know her new card hadn't arrived yet.

"A good few weeks passed and we decided to call back. It was more of the same - the card still hadn't arrived, which we thought was a bit strange. 

"A bank card doesn't take weeks to arrive and even if this was the case, you'd have thought she'd find the means to pay a bill over weeks later.

"We rang back again, and her phone was no longer working. It wasn't until I went and spoke to my dad [Daraz Aziz] and he explained the exact same thing happened to them in Corbridge. We cross-referenced the name and it was the same person. 

"Rather than contacting the police straight away, I wanted to know whether or not she'd been to other businesses. 

"I made a post on Hexham Matters and as soon as I posted it, people started to flood in with messages saying they knew who it was and it had happened to their business." 

Nabil contacted the police, which stated each business would have to report their separate incidents individually. 

He added: "Businesses are struggling as it is and every little thing makes a difference. Besides the financial part of it, it's the principle. 

"No one should be allowed to go to local businesses and get away with this. We wouldn't go out of business from a £100 bill, but the point is she's doing it to local businesses." 

Nabil advised that if other businesses come into contact with the woman, they should either refuse to serve her or ask for payment before serving her.

The Angel in Corbridge hotel and restaurant has also been affected.

A spokesperson from The Angel said the woman visited alone when she ordered a three-course meal on February 18.

She also had a room booked at The Angel's accommodation. 

"When she came to check out she had this tab for accommodation and the meal. She said she needed to go to the bank to get some cash and then she returned saying her card wasn't working but she'd give us her telephone number and bank card details. We thought we were a one-off," they said.

"It's very upsetting, disappointing and sad to think she's targeting small businesses around the area."

They advised other businesses to 'beware' if they encounter such incidents.

Hexham mayor Derek Kennedy said: "This is shocking, so many businesses have been affected by this person's behaviour. With so many incidents you would hope the police would have a long charge sheet against this person. Trading is tough enough for business."