A family has won £75,000 in damages after being falsely accused of dining and dashing from a restaurant in Tideswell, Derbyshire.
The incident unfolded last year when the Horse and Jockey pub shared CCTV images on Facebook, wrongly labelling the family as customers who had left without paying.
It later emerged that a staff member had failed to correctly process their payment at the till, leading to a major misunderstanding.
Court Ruling and Apology
Barrister Peter Girvan, representing the family, told the court:
The articles contained serious and defamatory accusations that the plaintiffs had engaged in dishonest and criminal conduct by deliberately absconding without settling a bill of approximately £150. The allegations were entirely false.”
Following legal proceedings, the Horse and Jockey pub agreed to pay £75,000 in damages and cover the family’s legal costs.
In a public statement, the pub said:
We deeply regret the error and the distress caused to the family involved. We have reviewed our procedures to ensure this does not happen again.
Importance of Fact-Checking
The case serves as a stark reminder about the risks of publishing accusations without proper verification, especially on social media platforms.
Legal experts warn that businesses must exercise caution before making public allegations, as reputational damage and costly lawsuits can follow.
