AN EMPLOYEE from hell who preyed on a string of York businesses has admitted stealing more than £6,400 from a hotel in the city.

But a judge let convicted thief Patricia Matthews walk free from court because he said it was not in the interests of justice to lock her up.

The South Bank woman admitted fiddling the books of the Queen's Hotel, in Skeldergate, while covering the manager's maternity leave.

She was ordered to repay £1,000, and could now face further court action if the Strensall-based family who own the hotel want to recover their full loss.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Matthews, of Dove Street, had convictions for stealing from a York employer in 1991, a Ryedale business in 1992 - when she was jailed for four months - and a York company in 1995.

Judge Jim Spencer, QC, warned all employers to beware of the former hotel employee after Matthews admitted false accounting between January 16 and June 12 last year.

She was ordered to do 150 hours community punishment and pay £1,000 compensation.

Geraldine Kelly, prosecuting, said Matthews stole the money while acting as manager to cover maternity leave.

She continued her thefts even after manager Samantha Ashby returned to work and noticed discrepancies in the hotel's computer accounts records.

"You have once again demonstrated you are thoroughly unreliable, you are dishonest and you are a criminal," the judge told Matthews.

"No employer is safe when they look to you for assistance because it seems to me, having looked at your record and by your behaviour last year, given the opportunity you will steal from your employer whenever you can."

He said she should have gone to prison, but because she was suffering from depression, had pleaded guilty, kept out of trouble for nine years and offered to pay some of the money before she was charged, he would not lock her up.

He added that he could only order her to repay £1,000 because of her low financial state, but the hotel could sue her for the rest.

Glenn Parsons, defending, said she was in a "very fragile and emotional state" and wanted to say she was sorry. Her partner was unemployed.

He handed in a letter from the Archdeacon of York on Matthews' behalf. The court heard Matthews stole the money to pay debts run up by her and her partner.

A spokeswoman for the Queen's Hotel declined to comment.

Updated: 10:04 Thursday, January 06, 2005