Liverpool Woman Denies Dine and Dash Allegations After Viral Video Sparks Backlash
A 28-year-old woman from Liverpool has vehemently denied allegations that she left a restaurant without paying her bill, claiming she has been publicly humiliated after a video accusing her of a "dine and dash" went viral on social media.
Mollie Birch visited Rancho Steakhouse in Waterloo alone on Saturday, February 21, ordering Mexican dippers, a ribeye steak with chips, three pornstar martinis, and a Kopparberg drink, with the total bill amounting to £59.25. She departed the restaurant around 8pm and later encountered a man at Waterloo Station while waiting for her train home to Bootle.
Viral Video and Public Shaming
The following morning, Mollie discovered a video of her at the station circulating widely on social media platforms, with over 1.2 million views. In the clip, a man can be heard saying, "Not paying the money for the food. Can you come back, please?"
Mollie told the Liverpool ECHO that she initially thought the man was simply speaking on his phone and had no idea she was being filmed. "I look dead uncomfortable. I was shocked. It's embarrassing," she said. "I've had so many cruel comments which is horrible. They've made an absolute scene of me. I've been publicly humiliated."
She maintains that she paid the full bill in cash before leaving the restaurant and was running to catch her train, not fleeing without payment.
Restaurant's Perspective
Rancho Steakhouse's restaurant manager, Navin Thapa, provided a different account to the ECHO. He stated that staff believed Mollie began behaving suspiciously toward the end of her meal, allegedly staying on her phone to avoid acknowledging the bill.
"When the staff had their backs turned, Mollie supposedly left without paying," Navin said. "She just ran away. We said you haven't paid your bill and she got up and left. We chased after her to Waterloo station and told her she had an unpaid bill and that we needed to go back."
CCTV footage viewed by the ECHO shows Mollie departing the restaurant before starting to run down the street, with two staff members following shortly afterward.
Motivation Behind the Video
Navin explained that the reason staff posted the video on social media was to "warn" other restaurants of the alleged dine and dash behavior. "We wanted to warn other restaurants as a precaution which is why we posted the video," he said. "We never want to treat any customer like that but we can't allow people to not pay their bill."
Police Involvement and Ongoing Investigations
Both parties have lodged formal complaints with Merseyside Police regarding the incident. A police spokesperson confirmed that officers were called to South Road in Waterloo at 8.25pm on February 21 following reports of an allegation of making off without payment from a local restaurant.
"Enquiries are ongoing in relation to this allegation, and a counter-allegation of harassment," the spokesperson said. The police emphasized that crimes should be reported directly to authorities rather than individuals pursuing suspects themselves.
"Circulating and sharing images and/or videos of alleged offences online, especially when these have not been shared with police, can jeopardise investigations and cause unnecessary distress," the spokesperson added.
Mollie insists she paid her bill in full and wants her name cleared, while the restaurant stands by its allegations. The case remains under police investigation as both sides await resolution.
