Former assistant manager at Weymouth hotel who committed £12,000 fraud to be sentenced

Martin Weaver was charged with fraud in which he dishonestly abused his position intending to make a gain for himself of £12,656.87 from Richmoor Hotel, on Weymouth's Esplanade.

The 44-year-old, of Gladstone Road, Scarborough, had been due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on September 9 but he failed to attend and an arrest warrant was issued.

He has since attended Scarborough Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to the charge, which relates to an offence occurring between February 8, 2018 and July 17, 2018.

He has been released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced at York Crown Court on Wednesday, November 25.

Richmoor Hotel, based in Weymouth. Picture: Google

Loraine Hillier, the owner of Richmoor Hotel for the past 22 years, welcomed his guilty plea and spoke of the emotional and mental toll caused by Weaver’s actions.

She recalled how he was initially employed as a restaurant manager for her Shelleys restaurant but wanted to help out more as an assistant manager at the hotel, taking on bookkeeping and office duties.

She added: “It has been a very long 28 months that it has taken for it to go to court. In that time, there was so much that happened that made it a really hard time for myself.

“I want to hear him admit to the things he did in court and I want some sort of justice for what has happened."

Describing herself as a caring person, she recalled how Weaver 'broke her trust' and as a result, affected her outlook on life. But Mrs Hillier has been touched by the support of her friends and colleagues following the ordeal.

She said: “Do I want to go through life not trusting people ever again? No. I do not want to become bitter and twisted but every time something like this happens, it takes a lot out of you.Martin Weaver, 44, will be sentenced at York Crown Court.

“The trust we had was broken but I have seen the good from other people. I hope that I can move forward and hopefully recover from this after the sentencing.”

Mrs Hillier has already prepared a victim impact statement and will read it out via a live video link at York Crown Court in a bid to stress the impact Weaver’s actions had on her life and the hotel.

She said: “I want to read my statement to the judge as I feel very strongly that by reading the statement, it will allow the judge to hear the toll and emotional impact of his actions."