The customer had a guilty conscience after walking out of the Seaview Palace Tandoori in Swansea without paying in 1996. He sent police an unsigned apology in March this year along with £60 in cash to be passed on to the owner. But the restaurant had since been demolished and police spent five months tracking down the former owner Samsul Bari.

They finally found him 40 miles away running a restaurant in Pembroke, West Wales. Mr Bari, 48, said: "I want to give a big thank-you to the individual for getting in touch with the police after all those years. "It seemed like a genuine mistake - I really appreciate the person coming forward."

The guilty customer ran up a bill of just £10 when he had his late-night meal 13 years ago. A South Wales Police spokesman said: "It seems the author had a pang of conscience and wished to repay the debt - with some money added to take account of inflation."

£10 for a curry in 1996? No wonder he did a runner!

You'll not be charging me for the poppadoms...

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