A former employee has admitted stealing steaks during a burglary at the Palace Hotel.

Forty-two-year-old Javier Vilas Meis will be sentenced after another defendant, who has denied the allegation, has been dealt with.

Prosecuting advocate Sara-Jayne Dodge told magistrates that police were called to the Palace Hotel on July 31.

The manager said that steak was missing and CCTV footage was viewed.

This showed two people driving to the loading bay by the kitchen.

Meis was seen entering an area which was restricted to employees only.

He took steaks and put them in his pockets.

He then entered a fridge and took more steaks.

Ms Dodge said that the purchase value of the steaks taken was £160.69, while the market value was £582.

Meis was then said to have got into a car, which the other defendant was allegedly driving.

The manager identified Meis, saying he was a former employee who he had known for over two years, and that he would have known it was a restricted area that he was entering.

When interviewed by police, Meis answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.

He appeared before magistrates with the assistance of a Spanish interpreter.

Defence advocate Kaitlyn Shimmin said that her client would have preferred to be dealt with immediately, but it was accepted that he may have to wait until the outcome of any trial for the other defendant.

Magistrates decided that it would be better to await the outcome of the other defendant’s case.

Bail continues, with a condition not to enter the Palace Hotel.

During a previous court appearance, Jose Manuel Acuna Martinez, aged 55, of Belmont Terrace, Douglas, pleaded not guilty to the same offence and is due for a pre-trial review on October 22.

He is also on bail.