A serial fraudster who racked up more than £8,000 in unpaid bills for high-quality accommodation, food and drink was today jailed for a year.
Craig Sharp, 52, admitted five counts of fraud by false representation at a number of locations in Essex and Suffolk, including a 15th-century manor house.
Chelmsford magistrates heard how he racked up a bill of more than £5,000 by staying between April and July last year at the Kingscliff Hotel in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
Sharp then stayed at the 15th-century Channels Hotel in Chelmsford, Essex, between November 15 and 19, where he racked up a bill of £214.50.
He then scammed the Angel gastro pub in Wangford, Suffolk, where he indulged in two nights.
Sharp, of Dockfield Avenue, Harwich, Essex, enjoyed hearty meals, washed down with numerous beers and even bought rounds of drinks for the locals which he added to his bill.
But he slipped away in the morning without paying his £600 bill, and when staff tried to charge his debit card they discovered there were no funds available.
Craig Sharp, 52, (pictured) admitted five counts of fraud by false representation at a number of locations in Essex and Suffolk, including a 15th century manor house.
Sharp admits he has a “horrendous” criminal record, including a string of jail sentences for dinner and script scams
Sharp then moved to the similarly named Angel Hotel in nearby Halesworth, where he stayed three nights, racking up a bill of £452 between November 22 and 24.
He completed his gourmet tour of East Anglia with a seaside stay at a hotel in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, where he incurred a bill of more than £1,500.
Sharp has a long record of dishonesty, dating back to 1993, and has served at least four prison sentences for fraud, including dine-and-race offences.
Lucy Osborn, defending him, said he was the sole carer of his elderly parents and had committed the crimes as a form of “escape”, saying: “His trips were an escape and a relief.”
He added that his underlying problems would not be solved by sending him to prison.
As well as being jailed, Sharp was ordered to pay compensation to the respective venues he defrauded.
Sharp booked a night at The Angel in Wangford in November, using his own name and his real address at his parents’ home, before arranging to stay a second night.
Bradley Coote, who works at The Angel, said: “He ate with us and enjoyed a lot of alcohol.” I served him one night. He was very charismatic.
“He contacted all the staff and was buying drinks for people in the bar.
‘Strangely enough, he seemed like a really nice guy. He was very talkative and friendly, and he was really down to earth.’
Mr Coote added: “When we saw the report that he had done the same thing at Halesworth Angel, we spoke to them and realized it was the same guy who had come to us.”
He enjoyed three meals and 26 pints during a three-night stay at the Angel Hotel in Halesworth, Suffolk.
He ripped off The Angel in Wangford in November after booking a one-night stay.
Sharp’s huge bill at the 16th century Angel Hotel in Halesworth included 15 pints of Birra Moretti, eight pints of Guinness, seven rum and colas, three pints of Aspall cider, five bags of Mini Cheddars and three meals and other accompaniments.
He tried to avoid suspicion by praising the staff and buying them chocolates at the family hotel.
But the owners became concerned after he ran away early on his last day and sent an email saying he would return later in the morning to pay.
When they never heard from him, they realized he had scammed them and released CCTV footage of him inside and outside the hotel.
MailOnline previously revealed that Sharp has pulled the same trick at a number of other luxury hotels and restaurants.
MailOnline previously revealed that Sharp has pulled the same trick at a number of other luxury hotels and restaurants.
Sharp was already serving a prison sentence when he was jailed for two months concurrently by magistrates in Colchester, Essex, in May 2017 after admitting two counts of absconding at two swanky hotels.
He prepaid for a two-night stay at the boutique Blue Ivy Hotel in North Hill, Colchester, on January 8 and 9, 2017, before arranging a third night and then leaving without paying the outstanding £202.
Representing himself in court, he attempted to claim that he had tried to make amends to Blue Ivy, saying: “I knew I wouldn’t be able to pay the bill for the third night.”
He added: “I contacted the owner afterwards and paid £45, but then realized there was no way to pay the rest.”
“I told him it would be a process of many months and that the only way forward was to go to the police.
He added: ‘When I make the reservation, I give my own details. I knew they would find me and I was burying my head in the sand. I hope I can be in prison, get myself together and come out with a clean slate.’
Sharp continued: ‘I’m not happy with myself and who I am. There was a six-year break in my offending when I moved to Scotland, which shows that I can push myself and get on with things.
‘My record is horrendous, but I feel drawn to doing these things. I give all my information correct and I know they will catch me in the end.
‘My parents are 70 years old and have had health problems, but they have told me that when they discharge me I will be able to live with them again.
“It’s up to me to get back to how I was six or seven years ago, when I was doing well.”