A couple who fled without paying for their lunch at a popular Cornish restaurant have been accused of being involved in ‘the worst crime ever’.

Jamie McLean, owner of Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar and Shack in Newlyn, Cornwall, said the couple sat down together to enjoy their meal on August 19.

After paying the £62 bill, the restaurant’s CCTV system shows the couple leaving their table without paying.

Mr McLean said the couple had left their phone number after calling the restaurant earlier to ask if there were any tables available.

He described their actions as “the worst crime ever”.

A restaurant owner in Newlyn, Cornwall, said this woman and her male friend left the Mackerel Sky restaurant without paying their £62 bill

The woman and her male companion dined at the popular restaurant on Monday evening before running away without paying for their meal

This renowned restaurant does not accept reservations, but tables are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

The couple sat beneath a surveillance camera that also recorded audio of the incident.

The female suspect was wearing a pink hoodie, blue jeans and white sneakers.

Her male companion wore a dark hooded shirt, dark blue jeans, and black shoes with white soles.

The woman was carrying a large white handbag.

Mr McLean posted CCTV footage of the couple on his restaurant’s Facebook page, and the post has since been shared more than 2,500 times.

The couple later complained after Mr McLean posted their photos online, allegedly telling him they didn’t like his food, despite the images showing them finishing their plates.

He said, ‘They were really unreliable. They left their phone number because they had called earlier to ask how busy it was. They just took the absolute p***.

‘It was a complete failure and when they finally answered the phone I said, “Come back and pay your bill or you’ll be chased out of Cornwall”.’

This latest so-called ‘dine and dash’ incident is the latest in a series of similar incidents in the country.

Last week, a restaurant in Bournemouth, Dorset, complained after a couple ran out of money for £120, including six espresso martinis.

In July, a group of women were filmed running away from La Bella Vista in St Leonards-on-Sea.

Although an innkeeper wrongly accused a number of guests of being ‘dine and dash’ offenders. After they finished their meal, the two men and two women thought they had paid the bill – but a clumsy employee forgot to swipe the card details through the till.

Manager Sam Watson told MailOnline: ‘We would like to sincerely apologise to those affected as we have now been informed that they did pay for their meal.

‘One staff member took the group’s order and a second staff member took payment, but he did not enter the payment through the cash register system.

‘It appeared that they had left without paying, even though they had.

“There was no dishonesty on the part of our employees, it was an honest mistake, but we have fired the employee responsible for the mistake.”

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary told MailOnline: ‘Police are aware of an incident where two people left Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar in Newlyn without paying their bill on Monday, August 19. Investigations into the matter are ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist investigating officers is asked to call police on 101 or visit our website and quote 50240211030.’