THE landlady of a pub in Whitbourne, near Bromyard, has warned other publicans that police have no powers to stop customers who leave without paying for their food or drink.

Susan Appleton, who runs the Wheatsheaf Inn, on Bromyard Road, wants others to beware after a man, who claimed he was a barrister, refused to pay a £103 bill.

The man arrived with seven others, including his wife, for a meal in the pub restaurant last Saturday night, March 15.

Mrs Appleton, aged 49, who runs the pub with her husband Peter, 57, and her eldest daughter Deborah, 22, said the customer ordered a steak.

"The first time it was served he sent it back because there was a garnish on the plate," she said.

"Then he said it was over-cooked, so I cooked him another, which he then didn't eat."

The rest of the party ate their meals and between them they had three bottles of wine.

But when it came to paying the bill, the man refused, even after the Appletons offered to discount the price of his meal.

"He said as long as he could show that he was able to pay when he came in, before he refused to pay, there was nothing we could do about it," Mrs Appleton said.

"He told us he was a barrister and told his wife to take notes," she added.

Mr and Mrs Appleton called the police but when they arrived they said there was nothing they could do to stop the man because he was not committing a criminal offence.

A spokesman for the police confirmed that it was a civil matter and the couple would have to pursue their case through the small claims court to obtain payment.

"Since we started running the pub two years ago we have never experienced anything like that," Mrs Appleton said.

"Our solicitor has checked to see if he really was a barrister, but he was not. He was just a conman."

"I just want other publicans to beware that there is nothing they can do to stop someone doing that," she added.