A 35-year-old chambermaid has been handed an 18-month jail sentence suspended for three years after admitting guilt to a series of thefts from a St Paul's Bay hotel.

Prosecuting Inspector Godwin Scerri told a court this morning that Police had tracked down the woman after realising that the same person was entering and exiting the hotel whenever there was a theft.

The woman, an Egyptian national, admitted to stealing from the hotel on various occasions throughout July. 

The prosecution noted that the woman had cooperated with investigators and returned all stolen cash - €715 -  and all other stolen items, including electronics, had been returned.

Her lawyer Noel Bianco said that the woman had admitted her mistake. He asked for a ban on the publication of her name, which the prosecution did not oppose.

Taking into consideration that she had cooperated, all the items had been returned and she had a clean conduct record, the court jailed the woman for 18 months, suspended for three years.

Visibly emotional, the woman asked whether she could return to her five children, and thanked police officers, the court and her lawyer.

The court was presided by Magistrate Gabriella Vella.