Restaurant suspects cleaning bill fraud

The owner of Leicester restaurant Firenze is angered at having become the target of a suspected dry-cleaning scam.

Sarah Poli, owner of the 60-seat Italian restaurant, has received a dry-cleaning bill for £17.99 from a customer who claims his suit was stained after a drink was spilt over him at the restaurant.

The bill was sent with a letter outlining details of the accident. It reads: "I would like to thank you again for a superb meal and service. Also for the professional manner in handling this matter. I look forward to my next visit with you in the near future along with my work colleagues."

The headed letter gives the name of Liverpool company Unicorn Trading, along with a mobile telephone number.

Poli said: "Our restaurant is a small, intimate little place, with my husband at the helm of the kitchen and me very much hands-on out front. I am, therefore, confident that I would know if an incident had occurred; and if anyone had offered to pay for any dry cleaning, it would have been me."

Mark Williamson, who works for Unicorn and whose telephone number is given on the letter, said: "It is nothing to do with me."