A hotel receptionist was today condemned to a one-year jail term suspended for two years after being convicted by an appeals court of having stolen €2,738.

Michael Xuereb had originally been acquitted of misappropriation, but the Attorney General appealed, arguing that he was never charged with misappropriation, but of theft.

The Attorney General said it was clear from CCTV footage that he had taken the money without informing anyone.

Mr Xuereb had pleaded that he had taken the money on the understanding that it would be deducted form his salary, something which had been done by others in the past.

However the police said that although Mr Xuereb was a family friend of his employers, he never contacted them in any way to tell them he was taking the money. He only spoke up when the money was reported missing.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia said that he did not believe that Mr Xuereb's intentions were honest and found him guilty of theft.