Police in Delft have arrested a 58-year-old man who wined and dined in restaurants 127 times without paying, local broadcaster Omroep West reported.

The man was caught last weekend when he was faking a stroke to get out of paying his bill, and ambulance staff refused to take him to hospital.

“He seemed to be a relaxed guy, who was treating other guests to drinks. He was eating and drinking away,” owner of De Waag restaurant Mike Hoogeveen told the broadcaster. At some point, the man started shaking and looked as if he was having a stroke, Hoogeveen said.

Ambulance staff called to the scene checked the man over and said he was not having a stroke but that he told them he was not paying his bill of over €100.

Police were called and the man was arrested and locked up in a cell. A spokesman confirmed that the man was known to have eaten at restaurants 127 times without paying. “We conducted a civil case against him but because he didn’t stop we took action this weekend,” he said.

It is not known if the man is still locked up or if he paid the bill at De Waag, the broadcaster said.