Former general manager at Threadneedles stole £20,000 from the hotel

A former general manager at Threadneedles in the City of London has been found guilty of stealing from the hotel.

Joe dos Santos, who was general manager of the hotel for four years until his suspension last July, was found guilty of theft totalling £20,000 from the property's owner, Eton Collection, at Croydon Crown Court last month (22 February).

Dos Santos, previously assistant manager at Brown's Hotel in London, repeatedly pilfered from the hotel's stock during his tenure, on one occasion stealing limestone flooring and installing it in his house, the court heard.

Separately do Santos also had new built-in cupboards, worth £7,000, installed in his home after submitting an inflated insurance claim for water damage at Threadneedles.

He was ordered to perform 250 hours of community service and pay Eton £7,000.

Peter Tyrie, chief executive of Eton Collection, said: "We have controls in place at the company but ultimately you have to believe in the people you hire. This is a very foolish man who has wrecked his career."

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By Chris Druce

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