Shellfish, seriously: Aussie runs into sea to avoid paying $650 seafood restaurant bill

Aspiring rapper Terry Peck allegedly ran into the sea to avoid paying for his A$621.30 (S$650) bill at a restaurant in Gold Coast on Monday (April 10). PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/TERRY PECK, OMEROS BROS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

An Australian man ran into the sea to avoid paying an A$621.30 (S$650) bill at a seafood restaurant on Monday (April 10), media reports say.

Rapper Terry Peck, who goes by the moniker 2pec, had racked up the hefty bill at the Omeros Bros Seafood Restaurant along Australia's eastern Gold Coast.

His order included two whole lobsters costing a total of A$390, 21 oyster shooter vodka cocktails for A$157.50 and a baby octopus for A$18.90.

However, when the bill arrived, Peck allegedly ran straight into the sea at Main Beach, and was pursued by police on jet skis, The Guardian reported on Monday, quoting the Australian Associated Press.

Peck was charged with stealing and two counts of seriously assaulting a police officer in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.

Outside the court, he told reporters that he had run to help a female friend who was about to give birth on the beach.

He also said he was disappointed with the food at Omeros Bros, saying that "the lobster was a bit overcooked".

Restaurant manager Robert Rank told Australian news site News.com.au in its report on Monday that this was untrue.

"It wouldn't have been overcooked," he said. "I'm pretty confident of that."

Peck is out on bail and will return to court on May 4.

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