A Briton admitted in court today that he used to enter and burgle hotel rooms while the guests were asleep there.

Richard Anthony Langley, a 39-year-old unemployed carpenter was in Malta on holiday with his 63-year-old partner, Maureen Ainsworth, an NHS receptionist.

The court heard that Mr Langley managed to make his way into six rooms at San Pawl Hotel in St Paul's Bay. Some of the rooms were not locked. Others were locked but he managed to force the locks using a credit card. All the thefts happened on Sunday night.

He stole cigarettes, cash, a small laptop, two mobile phones and a watch.

Lawyer Stefano Filletti told the court that the couple are going through financial difficulties and he was drunk when he committed the crimes.

Ms Ainsworth panicked when she found the stolen items in their room in the morning and they both decided to dispose of them in rubbish bins in St Paul's Bay and Valletta.

Most of the items were recovered, except the laptop, a mobile phone and the watch.

Mr Langley was found out by hotel staff when they examined CCTV footage.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri said both accused had cooperated with the police and Ms Ainsworth showed the police the bins where the items were dumped.

Magistrate Clare Zammit Stafrace siad she did not want Mr Langley to go back to the UK without paying for the laptop, the mobile phone and the watch and ordered that he should be given his passport only when he paid the bill of €270. She condemned him to a two year jail term suspended for four years while his partner was convicted of handling stolen property and conditionally discharged for three years.