NEWLYWEDS were left gutted after a hotel staff member stole the money from their wedding cards.
Danielle Thomson and Mark Brodie, both now 30, tied the knot at Crutherland House Hotel in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.
Craig Harrison pleaded guilty to theft at Hamilton Sheriff Court[/caption]
They left their cards and gifts from loved ones in a special postbox before taking them home to open two days later.
Overnight hotel worker Craig Harrison, 37, was caught by security cameras opening envelopes, taking out money, and taping them closed again, and was arrested by police.
Harrison, from Carluke, pleaded guilty to theft of £900 at Hamilton Sheriff Court, South Lanarkshire, on February 10.
He was asked to pay £1,200 compensation to the couple and a £1,000 fine on March 11.
The hotel refunded the couple £1,800, Danielle said.
Danielle, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, who works in catering, said: “It was just such a horrible shock.
It was a horrible shock… Weddings are expensive and planned to be the best day of your life, you just don’t expect something like this
Danielle Thomson
“Our wedding was lovely but we never got to enjoy the start of being married.
“It was very upsetting. The cards from my dad and grandad weren’t there at all.
“We had to go round and ask all our guests how much they gave us so we could tell the police – that felt very difficult.
“When people ask us about the wedding we want to talk about how great it was but this has overshadowed all of that.”
The couple tied the knot on August 19 2023 and opened their cards two days later to find no money inside – and some were just empty envelopes, Danielle said.
Some of the cards had been taped shut.
Parents-of-one Danielle, and Mark, who works in environmental services, paid around £5,000 for their wedding.
Harrison has to pay the total of £2,200 by April 8.
It was very upsetting. We had to ask all our guests how much they gave us so we could tell the police – that felt very difficult
Danielle Thomson
Danielle added: “It was a horrible thing to happen and has been made worse by the fact that it’s dragged on for ages.
“Weddings are expensive and planned to be the best day of your life, you just don’t expect something like this.”
A spokesperson from Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, which owns the hotel, said: “Our team take considerable care to keep our guests, and their belongings, safe during their visit.
“The comprehensive and strict security measures in place at the hotel allowed us to act quickly and decisively.
“The incident, which occurred two years ago, was immediately reported to Police Scotland.
“A thorough internal investigation was conducted, and the guests were fully reimbursed for their loss.”
Danielle Thomson and Mark Brodie on their wedding day[/caption]
