A serial dine-and-dash ex-lawyer has fled abroad and posted pictures of herself enjoying a day trip to Disneyland - despite being wanted by police. Kerry Stevens, 40, has failed to appear in court on at least nine occasions and is currently the subject of four arrest warrants.
Flight to France
The former lawyer, who was struck off after being previously convicted of failing to pay £60.91 at a Harvester, is now believed to be living with a family member in Lorraine, north-east France. Stevens brazenly posted an image, believed to have been taken at Disneyland Paris, wearing Mickey Mouse ears and holding a bubble-wand to her Facebook profile on May 18.
A family friend claimed Stevens, previously of Southend, fled earlier this year after failing to appear before the courts despite pleas from her family to stay. They said: 'The police came looking for her again and her mum had to tell them she'd gone.'
Background of the Case
After being named locally, Stevens made headlines for allegedly targeting restaurants and taxi firms, with images circulating online of her wearing a legal wig and gown. She has links to Shoebury and Westcliff, both in Essex, police have said.
The mother-of-one was charged with 11 counts of leaving without payment and one count of theft from a shop in 2024. She denies the offences and is due to face trial later this year.
Dine-and-Dash Incidents
Stevens and partner-in-crime Daniel Alani were first probed by police in connection with a dine-and-dash incident where regulars stopped a couple fleeing a pub without paying their £62 bill. The couple were accused of fleeing The Castle Inn, Little Wakering, Essex, without paying £62.20 after scoffing prawn cocktail, breaded mushrooms and two roast chicken dinners with extra lamb. They also drank two cokes, an orange juice and a medium glass of pinot wine.
Landlord Ken Todd said previously: 'For the sake of £62, if they came in and were starving I'd just give them the food. The man tried to leave through the back door of the pub, which I had already locked and apparently the woman tried to escape by the bathroom window.' Staff and customers are seen preventing Stevens and Alani from leaving the Castle Inn without paying their bill.
Steve Yeung, of The Pearl Dragon restaurant, in Eastern Esplanade, also claimed the pair had fled without paying their £127 bill. They had eaten four starters, four main courses and drank up to eight soft drinks. The pair are also believed to have been targeting taxi drivers, with many cabbies being swindled out of fares.
Electrician Alani pleaded guilty to theft, theft from a shop and eight counts of leaving without payment earlier this year.
