Employee stole £155k from hotel

A TRUSTED employee at a family-run hotel stole almost £155,000 from the business, pushing the firm to the edge of bankruptcy, a court has heard.

- JASON EVANS

Ivo Lima effectively took over the running of the hotel when the owner became seriously ill but systematically stole money from the business and diverted customer payments directly into his own bank account over a period of years.

Swansea Crown Court heard Lima was regarded more as a member of the family rather than an employee and he exploited that situation to “milk” the hotel in order to live a lifestyle above his salary.

Caitlyn Jones, prosecuting, told the court Lima was working as general manager at the Spilman Hotel in Carmarthen town centre when a serious deterioration in the owner's health meant he assumed additional responsibilities and effectively took over the running of the establishment.