What a world we live in

Unless you have your head firmly submerged under a heap of sand - you will surely agree that the world we live in is getting worse. The level and frequency of crimes is literally going through proverbial roof. People actually revel and enjoy doing bad things. With the plethora of criminals coming in many guises, their crimes ranging from the petty to the downright heinous you can't help but wonder what new misdemeanours people can think up. So, that is why this story that TCC will relate is so shocking. 

A man who has been luring women on dinner dates after meeting them online - then legging it before the bill arrives - has struck again. His latest victim, a Californian woman claims that she is the latest victim of the infamous "dine and dash dater." The woman, who does not want to be named, said she is the latest in a long line of ladies who have fallen hookline and sinker for the charms of prolific scammer, Paul Gonzales.

The Los Angeles woman said she met Mr. Gonzales on a dating app called Bumble before agreeing to go for a meal with him. Once at the restaurant, the woman said Gonzales ordered: "A glass of Pinot, a Caesar salad with a side of shrimp, a steak, and a baked potato." (He must have been peckish).  After ordering - this is when things began to become sinister... After having a few bites of his baked potato Mr. Gonzales said he had to take a call on his phone, but never returned. With a half eaten baked spud on the plate the lady in question was sat twiddling her thumbs perhaps contemplating what she would like for dessert. This is when the waiter came over to her asking, "If it was a first date?" To which she replied, "Yes, this is a first blind date!" The waiter then dropped the bombshell. "Erm... he's gone." As you can imagine the lady was shocked and upset that anybody could do such a horrible thing. Adding, "I even texted him, asking if everything was OK, obviously he didn't respond."

This awful dine and dash behaviour comes months after another woman accused the same man of ditched her during their first date. Ouch. That jilted woman told a news channel that she went on a date with Gonzales in August last year, which he also skipped out on after eating a whopping $100 worth of food - by pretending to need the loo. (He probably wasn't even lying, who knows what he must have ordered for it to come to that amount).

The first known victim, one rotund lady, Diane Guilmette, who met Gonzales on the dating site Plenty of Fish was also left with a hefty bill of $163 after Gonzales yet again did another runner. His first name really should be Speedy... This time the cad ordered a starter, a steak, two side orders and wine - at an expensive Los Angeles steakhouse. Lying through his spinach wedged  teeth (probably) he told her that he had to make a call, before Gonzales fled the restaurant leaving a flummoxed Diane to stump up. Diane did not confirm or deny that she decided to finish his meal before having to pay the bill. However, when she tried to contact him through Plenty of Fish, she realised that he had blocked her account. Charming.

Well... Diane was not going to take this cunning behaviour lying down. She promptly outed the criminal online - posting his picture on social media - and to her surprise several over women came forward to say he had done the same to them!

The police have said Gonzales, who has two arrest warrants out for petty theft and driving without a license, also committed a "snip and ditch" when he ran out of a hairdressers without paying after getting a cut and colour last year. (Probably for one of his dates, I imagine).

Demola, TCC