Briton steals from 44 hotel rooms in Malta

A Briton admitted in court today that he stole items from 44 rooms in a total of six hotels in Malta between July and October this year.

He was assisted in seven of the thefts by a Maltese man.

The Briton, Mark-Anthony George Bennett, 21, born in Enfield but resident in Msida, admitted to stealing from Bugibba Holiday Complex, Canifour Hotel. the Bugibba Hotel, Palm Court Hotel, San Pawl Hotel and Hotel Porto Azzuro Resort.

The stolen items consisted mostly of cash, mobile phones and other electronic equipment with a total value which, the court was told, runs into thousands of euro.

The Maltese man was Matthew Borg, 20 of Mosta, who also admitted to thefts from Qawra Inn. Both of them also admitted to handling stolen property and Mr Bennett also admitted relapsing.

The court was told that the two men used to simply walk into the hotels and and force open the doors. They were caught red handed by the staff in one of the hotels who became suspicious and followed them.

Judgment for Mr Bennett will be handed down tomorrow, while Mr Borg was condemned to a two-year jail term suspended for two years.