Serial dine-and-dash dater busted for leaving women to pick up the bill

Dating is hard at the best of times, let alone when your date lies about going to the bathroom, skips out on your dinner never to return and leaves you to pay the bill.

Well, that's what happened to at least eight women, who are all victims of the "serial dine-and-dash dater", with police believing more females across southern California might have also fallen prey to the man.

However, it seems the free meals have come to an end, with Paul Guadalupe Gonzalez taken into custody on Saturday on multiple charges, which could see him jailed for 13 years if convicted on all counts.

The 45-year-old pleaded "not guilty" to the ten felony charges ranging between May 2016 and April 2018, amounting to a total of $1,300 (US $950).

According to the LA District Attorney, Gonzales faces seven counts of extortion, two counts of attempted extortion and one count of grand theft.

He also is charged with two misdemeanour counts each of defrauding an innkeeper and petty theft.

RELATED: Telltale signs you're in an unhappy marriage

"Gonzales is accused of taking financial advantage of women he met mostly through dating apps and websites," Deputy District Attorney Michael Fern of the Cyber Crime Division said.

"He allegedly went to dinner with them at restaurants in Pasadena, Long Beach, Burbank and Los Angeles, where he ordered and consumed food and drinks, then allegedly left without paying any of the bill."

It's believed he told one woman he was going to the toilet before leaving the restaurant, while another was told he was getting his phone charger from his car, never to return.

The prosecutor claims eight women ended up paying the bill themselves, with one under the impression the serial dine-and-dash date would be paying her back.

Another two tabs were picked up by the restaurants themselves.

In an unrelated incident, it's claimed Gonzalez allegedly skipped out on a salon bill after having his hair done.