A SENIOR hotel staff member was today beginning a nine-month prison sentence after fleeing to the sun with stolen cash.

Herve Christian Di-Guisto made one-sided photocopies of £9,500 in banknotes, stuffed them in the hotel's bank bag - and fled with the real money to Greece, York Crown Court was told.

But, stricken with remorse, he then took a bus journey back to England and handed himself in at Fulford Road police station.

"An offence in these circumstances means there must be a prison sentence," Judge Gavin Barr-Young told him.

"In your case, I take into account very much not only your plea, but the fact you have brought yourself back to this country and that you did give yourself up to the police."

Di-Guisto, 37, of Ings Road, Wilberfoss, admitted theft.

Prosecutor Ravinder Randhawa said Di-Guisto was the senior member of staff on duty at Novotel Hotel, Fishergate, York, on August 16, the end of Ebor Races week.

His duties included counting up the takings and arranging for Securicor to collect them.

But when the security firm checked the bank bag they found the photocopies - and that £9,500 was missing.

Di-Guisto did not arrive for work on August 17 and other staff found the photocopier had broken down overnight.

"Having made good his escape with this money, and having settled himself in Greece in what many might perceive to be an idyllic lifestyle he was wracked with remorse and guilt," said defence counsel Nicholas Barker.

He tried to hand himself in to the British Embassy in Athens, but when they failed to arrest him, he travelled to France and with his family's help caught a bus to York where he went to the police.

He had been suffering from depression and low self-esteem at the time of the offence.

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