Former Chester Restaurant Manager Admits Fraud

Mario D'Agostino, a former manager at the Chester branch of Piccolino restaurant, exploited a customer loyalty scheme to steal over £21,000 between June 2021 and July 2022. He created fake loyalty accounts to redeem the introductory £20 offers and took cash from the till, claiming to have shared nearly £11,000 with staff after the restaurant began taking a cut of their tips. An investigation revealed that 60% of customers at the Chester location were using the scheme, significantly higher than the 7% average at other sites, prompting the company to report the discrepancies. D'Agostino pleaded guilty to fraud and received a 21-month suspended sentence along with 100 hours of unpaid work. The case highlights the abuse of trust by employees in positions of responsibility, as noted by Detective Constable Joe Duckworth. The restaurant chain has left open the possibility for civil recovery of the lost funds.