A hotel room attendant was caught on camera stealing cash after her manager set up a sting operation, a court heard.

Richard Quinn set the trap at Cambridge Beaches, in Somerset, following complaints from a number of guests that money had gone missing from their rooms last month.

The manager made inquiries and suspected hotel room attendant Karon Smith was responsible for the thefts, Magistrates' Court was told yesterday.

Mr. Quinn then hid cameras in a room, placed cash in a pouch where it could be seen and set the place up to make it look like a guest was staying there.

The court heard Smith, from Rocklands Road, Warwick, was then filmed entering the room and taking the money.

Yesterday, she pleaded guilty to stealing $35 on October 11. She will be sentenced in February next year.

Crown counsel Nicole Smith told the court: "Mr. Quinn received several complaints from guests that cash was missing from their rooms.

"He investigated, and her name (Smith) was mentioned in each case. Mr. Quinn put cameras in a room and had the room look as if it was allocated. Money was placed in a pouch.

"Mr. Quinn checked the room to see if any money was missing. He saw $10 and $5 notes were missing.

"Mr. Quinn observed footage and saw Karon Smith remove it from the pouch and put it in the top pocket of her uniform. She was later arrested on suspicion of theft."

When asked by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner whether she had anything to say, Smith replied: "I'm very sorry."

Mr. Warner adjourned sentencing until February 7 so that a social inquiry report on Smith can be compiled. The defendant was bailed.

Hotel manager Mr. Quinn was unavailable for comment yesterday.