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9th August 2023
01:48pm BST
A couple who walked out of a restaurant without paying their bill have hit back and defended their actions.
The landlady of the Smithy Arms in Swinton, North Yorkshire, shared images from CCTV of the pair, claiming they ate a meal and walked out without paying for a single thing.
Taking to Facebook, the landlady wrote: "How nice of you to come for a meal and drinks and run without paying. Staying on a campsite near."
After the post understandably went viral, the pair were quickly identified as Ruby, 32, and Suzy, 33.
Ruby then spoke out saying that they had always intended to 'hurry back to sort the bill' and have since settled the fee.
She also called out the 'homophobic and body-shaming witch-hunt' adding that everything has been 'blown out of proportion'.
In a since deleted Instagram post, Ruby wrote: "Usually I'd ignore ridiculous online hate, but this also involves my children so I'm just popping on to say that last night we had a delicious meal and experienced brilliant service at The Smithy Arms in Swinton, but sadly our visit was cut short and we had to dash - poor Frank didn't even get to have his ice cream - due to a personal emergency.
"Our plan was to call the pub asap to let them know the situation and then hurry back to sort the bill."
Ruby continued to say: "As we were camping, we realised once we got back that we had zero bloody reception and had to wait until this morning to contact the pub and clear the bill!
"Anyway, long story short, all is well, the bill and generous tip have been paid. There are no hard feelings between myself and the lovely people at The Smithy Arms, yet the internet has gone nuts.
"A misunderstanding that got enormously blown out of proportion, followed by a homophobic and body-shaming witch hunt. Beware the power of social media."
Speaking to the press, Ruby again stressed that there had been a 'medical emergency' and that she would never have left the pub without paying should the emergency not have arisen.
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