Dustbins across St Paul’s Bay and Valletta were the recipients of all sorts of goodies on Monday after a woman desperately tried to dispose of items her boyfriend had stolen the night before.

It was a desperate and foolish attempt- lawyer

Maureen Ainsworth, 63, panicked when her boyfriend, 39-year-old Richard Langley, returned to the couple’s room at San Pawl Hotel with several stolen items, defence lawyer Stefano Filletti said.

He said the couple was having financial problems because Mr Langley, a carpenter, was out of a job and recovering following an accident. On Sunday night, he got drunk and so went into rooms in the hotel and stole items while people were asleep. “It was a desperate and foolish act” Dr Filletti said.

Ms Ainsworth, a hospital receptionist, realised what had happened in the morning. She panicked and they both came up with the idea to start throwing away the items in rubbish bins around St Paul’s Bay and Valletta, the lawyer said. She could have phoned the police but how could she turn her own boyfriend in, the lawyer asked.

Although she had no moral fault it was wrong, he added.

Mr Langley on the other hand, made no attempt to hide his identity and foolishly decided to steal from hotel rooms even as guests slept in their beds.

The couple, both from London, stood in the dock holding hands as he admitted to stealing from six rooms and she to handling stolen property on Sunday.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri pointed out that some of the hotel rooms Mr Langley went into were unlocked. He apparently used a credit card to unlock the others.

The prosecuting officer said both were very cooperative and Ms Ainsworth even took the police to the dustbins were the loot was dumped.

All items were recovered except a 10-inch laptop worth €250, a €20 mobile phone and wrist watch of minimal value. The laptop was thrown away in the ladies’ toilet at Café Cordina in Valletta.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit said that although the items were recovered she was not about to let the couple leave without paying for the laptop.

She ordered Mr Langley to pay for the laptop and the mobile phone and once he did so he could have his passport back. He was also slapped with a two-year jail term suspended for four.

Ms Ainsworth was conditionally discharged for three years.