A hotel manager has been warned he could be jailed after he helped stage a robbery and stole nearly £13,000 from the Aberdeenshire hotel where he worked.
Neil Riddell and his accomplice Aaron Elder attacked an employee at the Holiday Inn at Westhill before tying him up and escaping with the money.
The pair admitted assault and robbery when they appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Riddell, 40, and Elder, 34, admitted forming a plan to steal money from the Holiday Inn Aberdeen West Hotel, and then pretending the theft was a robbery.
They also admitted assaulting staff member Ian Kiloh, acting in an intimidating manner and binding him to a chair with tape.
They stole £12,908.55 in cash, as well as a hand-held radio, banking documents and receipts.
The offence happened on April 1 this year.
Riddell’s agent, solicitor Michael Horsman told the court his client had lost his job as night manager at the hotel after the incident, but had since managed to find employment at a hotel at Elgin.
Mr Horsman also said £11,770 was recovered soon after the incident, and that his client had offered to pay back the balance.
He added that the pair did not use a weapon and that Mr Kiloh was not injured in the attack.
Sheriff Kenneth Stewart granted bail to Riddell, of 46 Kineddar Street, Lossiemouth, but warned the 40-year-old he may face a prison term when he and Elder are sentenced.
Sentence on the pair was deferred until July 16 for background reports.
Elder, who was described in court papers as a prisoner in Aberdeen and was represented in court yesterday by solicitor Bob Anderson, was remanded in custody.
Detective inspector Martin Dunn said last night: “This was a distressing experience for the staff member involved, who was tied up and intimidated.
“Riddell was a trusted member of staff and breached that trust for his own personal gain, while Elder was a willing accomplice.
“The arrests were made are as a result of good, determined police work and we are glad we were able to bring this case to such a speedy conclusion.”