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| Louis Theroux conman pleads guilty to pub stay fraud | Louis Theroux conman pleads guilty to pub stay fraud |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man who claimed to be TV presenter Louis Theroux to stay in a pub free of charge has pleaded guilty to fraud. | A man who claimed to be TV presenter Louis Theroux to stay in a pub free of charge has pleaded guilty to fraud. |
| Allan Debenham, 39, spent two nights in the Duke of York pub near Ilminster, Somerset, after giving false details for the BBC's finance department. | Allan Debenham, 39, spent two nights in the Duke of York pub near Ilminster, Somerset, after giving false details for the BBC's finance department. |
| South Somerset Magistrates Court heard that Debenham also faked the role of Mr Theroux's personal assistant to order room service of wine and "some fags". | South Somerset Magistrates Court heard that Debenham also faked the role of Mr Theroux's personal assistant to order room service of wine and "some fags". |
| Debenham, of Hamilton Road in Taunton, also booked a taxi in the same way. | Debenham, of Hamilton Road in Taunton, also booked a taxi in the same way. |
| He pleaded guilty to two charges of dishonestly making a false representation by claiming he was Mr Theroux. | He pleaded guilty to two charges of dishonestly making a false representation by claiming he was Mr Theroux. |
| Speaking about the con on Twitter, the real Louis Theroux said: "I love that it wasn't his appearance that tipped them off but the fact that he asked for fags not cigarettes. | |
| "I am partial to a bottle of cava though." | |
| 'Bottles of cava' | 'Bottles of cava' |
| The court heard the owners of the pub were defrauded out of £165 and the taxi firm out of a £14.70 fare. | The court heard the owners of the pub were defrauded out of £165 and the taxi firm out of a £14.70 fare. |
| Although Debenham had booked a three-night stay, he was rumbled after two nights by suspicious staff. | Although Debenham had booked a three-night stay, he was rumbled after two nights by suspicious staff. |
| Prosecutor Emma Chetland told the court that, on 21 April, a man called the pub saying he was "Louis Theroux from the BBC" and made a three-night reservation after giving incorrect details for the BBC's finance department. | Prosecutor Emma Chetland told the court that, on 21 April, a man called the pub saying he was "Louis Theroux from the BBC" and made a three-night reservation after giving incorrect details for the BBC's finance department. |
| She added: "He also asks for two bottles of wine to be left outside the room. The PA rings again and asks for two bottles of cava and some fags - to use his words - to be left outside the same room. | She added: "He also asks for two bottles of wine to be left outside the room. The PA rings again and asks for two bottles of cava and some fags - to use his words - to be left outside the same room. |
| "The person taking the call becomes suspicious at the use of the word 'fags' rather than cigarettes. They go upstairs and find the door to the room locked. | "The person taking the call becomes suspicious at the use of the word 'fags' rather than cigarettes. They go upstairs and find the door to the room locked. |
| "They call the telephone number that was left and find it to be unobtainable and they call the BBC who tell them the order number is not one they recognise." | "They call the telephone number that was left and find it to be unobtainable and they call the BBC who tell them the order number is not one they recognise." |
| 'Put on some weight' | 'Put on some weight' |
| The police were then called by staff at the £70-a-night pub and Debenham was arrested. | The police were then called by staff at the £70-a-night pub and Debenham was arrested. |
| Miss Chetland told the court: "The taxi was booked in the name of Louis Theroux and they were told they might not recognise that person as he had put on a bit of weight but they should send the bill to the BBC." | Miss Chetland told the court: "The taxi was booked in the name of Louis Theroux and they were told they might not recognise that person as he had put on a bit of weight but they should send the bill to the BBC." |
| Mitigating for Debenham, his lawyer Chris Ivory said his client had turned to alcohol after losing his job, his partner and his home at the end of last year. | Mitigating for Debenham, his lawyer Chris Ivory said his client had turned to alcohol after losing his job, his partner and his home at the end of last year. |
| "In desperation he tried it on. He managed to get a couple of nights' free accommodation and he accepts the prosecution case in respect of that," Mr Ivory said. | |
| Sentencing was adjourned until 25 June to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. | Sentencing was adjourned until 25 June to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. |