Hotel manager stole from boss after being treated to New York holiday

A hotel manager stole from his boss shortly after he had been treated to an all expenses paid holiday in New York, a court heard.

Ryan Simmons, 26, assistant manager at the Castle Retreat hotel in Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a series of theft charges when he appeared before Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

He told the court that he took £850 from the safe because he had money troubles. Sentencing was adjourned and Simmons was ordered to repay the money.

After the case hotel owner Peter Hood, 42, told local press: "Ryan was doing a good job and I was trying to bring him along and encourage him. I was grooming him to take over as manager at the hotel. I thought he was a good lad with a lot of potential.

"While we were in Dublin, he said he wanted to go to New York to propose to his girlfriend, Elaine. I said I would pay for it as a gift for them as another incentive for him to work hard.

"They stayed in the Roosevelt Hotel on Central Park for three days after flying over there. The trip cost me £850 and I gave them £200 spending money.

Hood said it was only a month later that he discovered Simmons was stealing from him.

"I feel gutted to have been taken in by him. I trusted him and this was how he repaid me."

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By Andrew Smith

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