Newlywed couple arrested for stealing hotel room

A newlywed couple staying in a luxury five-star hotel looted their room - even taking the paintings off the walls, reports the UK’s Daily Mail.

Laura and Christoher Barnett fled with slippers, dressing gowns, Egyptian linen sheets, pillows, everything in the minibar, bedside telephone and the flat-screen television.

A court heard Laura Barnett, 25, and new husband Christopher, 38, checked into the Grade II-listed Morgans Hotel in Swansea, South Wales, for a romantic break.

The five star luxury hotel is beloved by singing sensation Katherine Jenkins and Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones - and owned by chairman of Swansea City FC Martin Morgan.

But when they tried to checked out of the £90-a-night Osprey suite, staff discovered they had left the room almost bare.

The couple had passed the TV through a window then loaded up their luggage with all the rest of their five-star plunder.

But a court heard they were caught when Barnett argued the bill for a pay-per-view movie - saying the room didn’t have a television.

Laura Barnett, 25, booked a night in the luxury room to celebrate her husband Christopher’s birthday two weeks ago - just six months after they wed.

Prosecutor Sharon Anderson said: 'The couple checked in before going on a night out in Swansea city centre. They returned at 6.40am after drinking heavily. At 9am CCTV recorded Laura Barnett leaving the hotel carrying a large bag. That bag contained linen, dressing gowns, the contents of the minibar, a telephone and even pictures from the walls of the room. She took that bag to her car and was then recorded standing outside the hotel, waiting by the window of the room. The curtains were seen to move before the room’s television was passed by her husband through the window.'

But the happy couple’s plan came undone when Christopher Barnett went to reception - and complained about items on his bill about pay-per-view TV.

A court heard he claimed his room didn’t have a television inside so he wouldn’t pay up.

Mrs Anderson said: 'Staff became suspicious and the porter checked the room and found most of the contents had been removed.'

Police were called immediately and the pair were arrested in the reception.

Mike Spring, defending Laura Barnett, said she had been pressured into doing it by her husband.

But Mr Spring conceded that the incident was 'bizarre'.

He said Laura Barnett had lied to police in interview, where she said she had acted alone, because her husband was already subject to a suspended sentence.

The couple, from Port Talbot, South Wales, eventually admitted taking part in the theft.

Christopher Barnett was jailed for 16 weeks and Laura Barnett received a community order of 12 months and must compete 80 hours unpaid work.