A SENIOR manager at an Aberporth hotel stole almost £450 because he was struggling financially, a court has heard.

But his solicitor has highlighted the “irony” that Richard Marc Gwynne was owed £3,000 in wages by the Penrallt Hotel following the theft that took place between 23 November 2015 and 14 January this year.

Gwynne, 42, pleaded guilty to theft by an employee after he put refunds onto his own card as a way of stealing the money.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said Gwynne was the food and beverage manager at the hotel at the time before he was dismissed in January.

But the hotel owner then discovered four payments that added up to almost £450 that didn’t match any transactions that the hotel had been involved in.

Checks by the police showed that the refunds had been made to a card belonging to Gwynne, of 6 Arwel, Church Street in Cilgerran.

After he was arrested Gwynne admitted the theft and said he was suffering from financial problems at the time.

Ms Tench said Gwynne told police that he was owed £3,000 in unpaid wages by the hotel, but she said he admitted that was not a defence for him taking the money.

Defence solicitor Alan Lewis said Gwynne had been carrying out the duties of a general manager at the hotel, but wasn’t actually employed in that role.

He said Gwynne and other former staff members were taking civil court action against the hotel to win money they allege should have been paid in wages.

Mr Lewis said: “It is rather ironic that at the end of the day he’s left out of pocket by a significant amount.”

However, Mr Lewis said Gwynne had not been owed that money at the time of the theft, but said he had been struggling financially following the breakdown of his marriage.

Gwynne was embarrassed and realised he had embarrassed his family and was apologetic for his “bad” decision to steal the money, magistrates were told.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order and told Gwynne he was carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He will also repay the money stolen and costs totalling £145.