After Andy Hageman, the self-confessed Basil Fawlty of Mortons House Hotel in Dorset, news has emerged of yet another Fawlty-style proprietor, curry house owner Mohammed Ullah, who has been dubbed as "Basil Balti".
Ullah, of Newport, Gwent, was given the unfortunate nickname after shouting and swearing at two diners and locking them up in his Indian restaurant in a row over a bill.
The incident happened after a woman became upset when she and her husband witnessed a fellow diner cut her head open in the restaurant's toilet, Newport Crown Court was told. The couple called for an ambulance and decided to leave. Because they hadn't eaten their main course, they decided to pay only for the food they had received.
Bad move.
In true Fawlty fashion, restaurant owner Ullah yelled: “You are f***ing rubbish” at the pair, waving his arms shouting “You make me sick” and “B*****ds, you're all the same” after they refused to pay their full bill, the court heard.
Ullah's defence lawyer said his remarks were “out of character” and he had received a good citizenship award from his mayor. He admitted to behaving abusively and was given an absolute discharge but ordered to pay £95 costs.
