A Secret Santa gift was ‘stealthily’ stolen by a security staff member during a Tenby hotel’s Christmas party, a court has heard.

Amy Louise Jones, 31, of Pendre Road, St Clears, was found guilty of four charges of theft after standing trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court today (Monday).

The court heard that items, including mobile telephones and an aftershave set went missing during a staff Christmas party at the Clarence Hotel on December 9.

Megan Gilchrist, prosecuting, told the court that two sisters who worked at the hotel noticed that the large handbag they were sharing was missing at around 5pm.

The bag was later found turned inside out in the dining room, and two  iPhones, £40 cash, a debit card and a Spanish mobile phone were missing.

CCTV showed Jones walking out of the bar and through the kitchen area after picking up the bag, then returning into view without it.

Penelope Phillips, who owns and manages the 77 bedroom hotel with her husband, later realised that a 200 sleeve of cigarettes had also been taken.

All items, except the cash, were later found on a coffee table in the downstairs flat that Jones was sharing with her colleagues for the night.

Night porter Peter Hill told the court that he had received an aftershave set as a Secret Santa gift during the party.

He was unaware it had been stolen until police tried to find the owners of the haul from the flat.

He said: “Whoever had taken it had done it very stealthily.”

Jones told the court that she had worked as part of the weekend security team at the hotel for two years.

She stated she could not remember anything after 4pm on the day in question because of the amount of alcohol she had consumed.

Jones said: “I do not believe I stole anything. I’m just not capable of that.”

“I have found all this quite traumatic.”

Mike Kelleher, defending, said: “It’s a very strange case. The items were on the table, not hidden away.”

He added: “This is a lady of exemplary character, who needs her good character for the sort of work that she does.

“The Secret Santa gift that went missing is not the sort of item you would expect a thief to take, especially a female thief.”

Magistrates found Jones guilty and sentenced her to a 12 month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She was also ordered to pay £40 compensation, £400 court costs and a £85 surcharge.