A 58-year-old man employed as a manager at a Longtown hotel has admitted stealing more than £107,000 from his employer.

Stewart McIntosh, appearing at Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court today, gave his address as English Street, Longtown. He admitted three allegations.

The prosecution case is that between August 1, 2011, and July 1, 2018, he stole £100,588 which belonged to his employer, The Graham Arms Hotel in the town. The second charge is that he also stole £6,650 from his employer. This happened between January 2, 2018, and May 1 of the same year.

The defendant admitted both charges.

He further admitted false accounting – namely that he falsified cash sheets with a view to making a gain for himself. It happened between August 1, 2011, and July 1 of last year.

McIntosh made a brief appearance in court today, when he was represented by defence solicitor Laura Jones.

In court, the defendant spoke only to confirm his details and enter his pleas.

John Moran, prosecuting, said that McIntosh committed the thefts and false accounting while working as a manger at the hotel, and having day-to-day responsibility for the businesses's daily takings. The theft of the smaller amount of cash was the result of him recording that cash had been paid into a business bank account when he had in fact failed to do that.

"He failed to bank that money on 12 separate occasions," said Mr Moran.

The court heard that the offences were so serious that magistrates were unable to sentence the defendant. The amount involved meant that the sentence could be up to six years in jail. The case involved a breach of trust, said Mr Moran.

Magistrates sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing there on January 17 when he is likely to be sentenced.

Miss Jones told magistrates that the defendant had a lot of mitigation to offer the court. "He was a man of impeccable good character before this," she said.

McIntosh will be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on January 17 after background reports have been prepared. The defendant was granted bail until the day of his sentencing.