Pulling a dine-and-dash is one thing. Pulling it 20 times by pretending to have a heart attack is another level entirely.

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That’s exactly what authorities in Spain say one man managed to do over the course of a year before his run finally came to an end.

As reported by The Independent, 50-year-old Lithuanian national – identified as Aidas J. – was arrested in Alicante after allegedly scamming restaurants across the city by using the same bizarre trick over and over again: ordering expensive meals, refusing to pay, and then collapsing to the floor in what witnesses described as dramatic fake medical emergencies.

According to Spain’s EFE news agency, Aidas had already been arrested for similar incidents dating back to November 2022, but his latest stunt on September 19 proved to be the one that finally caught up with him.

And by this point, local restaurant owners knew exactly who they were dealing with.

By all accounts, Aidas had developed a pattern.

Reports from the Spanish newspaper El País say he would present himself as what staff believed to be a “typical Russian tourist”, often dressed in designer clothes and speaking in a confusing blend of multiple languages.

The act apparently worked long enough for him to settle in, order heavily, and enjoy a full meal before trying his escape.

Police say he had a particular taste too.

One officer told Spanish media he would almost always start with a Russian Salad, “which he seems to like quite a bit,” before moving onto bigger dishes like lobster or entrecote, usually alongside several whiskeys.

It wasn’t exactly subtle.

Across 20 separate incidents, Business Insider reported the unpaid meals totalled more than $800, with individual bills ranging anywhere between £13 and £60.

But because each offence fell into the “minor crime” category under Spanish law, it became difficult to impose serious punishment.

That loophole is something authorities believe Aidas knowingly exploited.

His latest target was Alicante restaurant El Buen Comer, where he sat down for seafood paella and two whiskeys, building up a bill of 34.85 Euros — around $36.80.

When he finished eating, staff say he attempted to walk out.

But this time, workers stopped him before he got too far.

At first, Aidas reportedly claimed he needed to return to his hotel to get the money.

When that excuse didn’t work, he switched to his trademark performance.

He suddenly claimed to feel ill and dropped to the floor.

Restaurant owner Moisés Doménech described the scene to The Sun, saying: “It was very theatrical, he pretended to faint and slumped himself down on the floor.”

For staff at El Buen Comer, it was obvious.

They weren’t buying it.

Instead of calling for sympathy, they called the police.

And when officers arrived, they instantly recognised him.

That’s how familiar his routine had become.

Police confirmed Aidas identified himself at the scene and even requested an ambulance, insisting there was something wrong with his heart.

But officers quickly established he was fine and took him straight to the station instead.

The Alicante National Police later told Business Insider: “He was arrested multiple times in the city of Alicante. The modus operandi was the same,”

What makes the story even stranger is that some reports claim Aidas had previously taken the act even further — seeking medical attention after some of his fake collapses and even being admitted to hospital for his supposed “heart problems.”

That only helped keep the illusion alive.

But it also meant the scam continued longer than it probably should have.

One officer who had arrested him multiple times told EFE that Aidas would often smile when police arrived because he knew the consequences were limited.

In their words, “he sees himself unpunished,” largely because spending a day or two in custody before a short court appearance didn’t seem to bother him.

That confidence may have finally run out.

Following repeated unpaid fines and ignored court summons, Aidas was jailed for 42 days, according to The Sun and The Daily Mail.

Still, local business owners wanted to ensure his run would come to a definite end.

Doménech has reportedly circulated the man’s photo to nearby restaurants to warn them not to serve him, while several establishments in Alicante have now joined together to file a collective criminal complaint.

They also pushed for a sentence of up to two years behind bars.

A lawyer from Navarra Sancho, speaking to The Sun at the time, said: “He has taken advantage of the legal system, with such small fines unpaid it’s difficult to achieve a longer sentence in prison.”

They never received their wish, but at least Alicante’s restaurants can probably breathe a little easier.

But for a man nicknamed “El Gastrojeta” — roughly translating to “The Face of a Freeloader” — it’s a remarkable end to one of the strangest dine-and-dash stories in recent memory.

Twenty restaurants.

Twenty fake collapses.

And all of it over plates of paella, lobster, whiskey… and, apparently, a very consistent obsession with Russian Salad.

Featured image credit: Policía Nacional