Scot jailed for refusing to pay massive restaurant bill
A convicted Scottish sex offender has been sentenced to four months' jail for running up a 140,000 kronor ($20,500) bill in one of Stockholm's top restaurants and then refusing to pay.
John Cronin, 36, ran up the bill at the exclusive Operakällaren restaurant in Stockholm last month. He ordered a three course meal, with a different bottle of wine for each course. When presented with the bill, he told waiters that he could not pay it, and asked them to call the police.
The wines - a 2002 Montrachet, a 1989 Château Pétrus and a 1937 Château d'Yquem, were among the most expensive on the restaurant's menu. The Château d'Yquem cost 45,145 kronor. Waiters say that Cronin only drank one glass out of every bottle.
Stockholm District Court sentenced Cronin to four months in jail on Friday afternoon, after which he will be deported from Sweden and banned from returning for five years.
Cronin already has a long string of prison sentences behind him, having served time in Ireland for various crimes and a six-year sentence in Scotland for a brutal sexual assault on a Conservative Party worker.
Following the hearing on Friday, lawyer Bengt H Nilsson told The Local he was unsure whether Cronin would appeal the sentence.
"I haven't yet had a chance to confer with my client," he said.
Cronin told officers on his arrest last month that he actually wanted to go to jail.
John Cronin's luxury dinner in full:
Pan-fried scallops with lemon pesto and tomato tartar - 270 kronor
Two portions of: Fried, tenderized Swedish entrecote on the bone, served with gravy of ox marrow, white and green asparagus and a compote of chanterelle mushrooms. - 840 kronor
One scoop of vanilla ice-cream (ordered off-menu) - 30 kronor
Wine:
Montrachet 2002 - 31,670 kronor
Château Pétrus 1989 - 34,840 kronor
Château d’Yquem 1937 - 45,145 kronor
Grahams Port 1948 - 26,450 kronor
Coffee:
Kenya AA - 44 kronor
Source for menu: SR
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John Cronin, 36, ran up the bill at the exclusive Operakällaren restaurant in Stockholm last month. He ordered a three course meal, with a different bottle of wine for each course. When presented with the bill, he told waiters that he could not pay it, and asked them to call the police.
The wines - a 2002 Montrachet, a 1989 Château Pétrus and a 1937 Château d'Yquem, were among the most expensive on the restaurant's menu. The Château d'Yquem cost 45,145 kronor. Waiters say that Cronin only drank one glass out of every bottle.
Stockholm District Court sentenced Cronin to four months in jail on Friday afternoon, after which he will be deported from Sweden and banned from returning for five years.
Cronin already has a long string of prison sentences behind him, having served time in Ireland for various crimes and a six-year sentence in Scotland for a brutal sexual assault on a Conservative Party worker.
Following the hearing on Friday, lawyer Bengt H Nilsson told The Local he was unsure whether Cronin would appeal the sentence.
"I haven't yet had a chance to confer with my client," he said.
Cronin told officers on his arrest last month that he actually wanted to go to jail.
John Cronin's luxury dinner in full:
Pan-fried scallops with lemon pesto and tomato tartar - 270 kronor
Two portions of: Fried, tenderized Swedish entrecote on the bone, served with gravy of ox marrow, white and green asparagus and a compote of chanterelle mushrooms. - 840 kronor
One scoop of vanilla ice-cream (ordered off-menu) - 30 kronor
Wine:
Montrachet 2002 - 31,670 kronor
Château Pétrus 1989 - 34,840 kronor
Château d’Yquem 1937 - 45,145 kronor
Grahams Port 1948 - 26,450 kronor
Coffee:
Kenya AA - 44 kronor
Source for menu: SR
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