POSTERS warning Oxford restaurants not to serve a notorious con artist who orders slap-up meals then leaves without paying have been put up by police.

Officers printed the 200 warning signs because Eric Austin, who was jailed for 10 weeks on April 4 for defrauding two city eateries, is about to be released from prison.

The 45-year-old admitted having a meal and two bottles of wine, worth a total of £52.80, at the Dong Dong Noodle Bar on April 1, and a £60.30 meal including two more bottles of wine at The Somerset, Marston, the next day.

On both occasions he admitted he knew he did not have the means to pay.

Austin hit the two restaurants despite just getting out of prison for a previous string of offences and having a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from entering any premises in Oxford where food and drink can be ordered and consumed prior to payment.

The manager of the Dong Dong Noodle Bar in Headington, Chi Lai, said: “He had two bottles of wine, a couple of starters and a main.

“I believe these things happen all over the world. What I am surprised about is that he has been doing it to a number of businesses in the area and there is no way to prevent his actions.

“In my opinion, it doesn’t matter how long the sentence is, the only thing that matters is the outcome – whether this will put him off doing it again in the future. In this case the answer is no.

“Therefore it will be more businesses that suffer once he is released.

“The local authority should think of ways to prevent this happening.”

Oxford antisocial behaviour office Pc Mike Ellis said he hoped Austin, who was “well-known” in the city, would eventually give up his game if he was repeatedly jailed.

He said: “We’ve now delivered posters to most of the restaurants and cafes in town so the message is – if he comes in, please don’t serve him.”

Austin, of Friars Wharf, Oxford, was banned from Oxford eateries by a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) made at Oxford Magistrates Court on March 19 after he was convicted of a string of dine-and-dash dinners.

On that occasion he was jailed for 56 days after admitting one count of fraud by false representation and one count of making off without payment.

Police said he had walked out of the Quod Brasserie in High Street after eating a meal and drinking wine worth £108.

The next day he went to Marco’s New York Italian in High Street and ran up a £67 bill before trying to pay with a card which had no money on it, police said.

Pc Ellis said Austin has clocked up more than 12 similar offences over the past two years in Oxford often wearing a smart jacket and tie to “look the part”.

Loch Fyne general manager Karl Medhurst said: “I would like to see him locked up for longer to keep him off the streets.

“We’re a big company but if he’s targetting little independents it’s a lot of money to get stung for by someone who just can’t be bothered to pay the bill.”

Austin admitted he had breached the CBO on April 4, and also admitted using aggressive language at the Dong Dong Noodle Bar and was ordered to pay £80 compensation.