A critical review on the Trip Advisor website led to the deputy manager of a Llandudno hotel appearing in court.

For when hotelier Marc Viercant checked with the person who made the comment he realized that he had been the victim of theft.

It emerged that his deputy Eleanor Hardie, who had been in charge at the time, had pocketed the £305 which the guests had paid.

At Llandudno magistrates’ court Hardie, agws 38, pleaded guilty to theft from her employer, who took over the Cae Mor Hotel on the sea front in October last year.

Prosecutor James Neary said that Hardie was on the staff when Mr Viercant took over and when he went away on three weeks’ holiday in January he was happy to leave her in charge.

“She was a trusted member of staff,” said Mr Neary.

On reading the Trip Advisor comment Mr Viercant checked the booking and found no record of the guest having stayed for two rooms, and he said he had paid in cash.

When asked about it, Hardie could not recall the incident, but when Mr Viercant obtained further evidence she was dismissed.

Mr Neary told the court that Hardie, a mother-of-five, of Maes Clyd, Llandudno, had been offered a caution by the police in condition that she attend a Pathfinder course and write a letter of apology by April.

She had written the letter but because she had not attended the course the case was taken to court.

Donald Roberts, defending, said: “She is ashamed and embarrassed. It occurred at a time when she was struggling financially around the Christmas period, and she saw the opportunity to supplement her meager income.”

Hardie had not attended the course because she had not been given full details about it,’ he added .

Deputy District Judge Meirion Lewis-Jones commented: “She ignored the olive branch which would have avoided her coming to court.”

Hardie, who is now deputy manager of a Deganwy pub, was bailed to appear at the same court this Friday ((10th)) when a pre-sentence report will be prepared by the probation service.