A BARMAN who stole more than £2,600 from his employer has been sent to Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced.

Liam Hickson, 23, of Raby Street, Darlington, who has more than 20 convictions for fraud and theft, has pleaded guilty to stealing the cash from a safe at Hotel Bannatyne, in Darlington, where he worked.

The town's magistrates' court heard yesterday that he had spent most of the money on his alcohol and gambling addictions, as well as hotel bills.

Ciaran Grogan, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The theft is aggravated by a clear breach of trust. The defendant says he was extremely drunk and he only remembers snatches of the evening."

The hearing had been adjourned previously for a pre-sentence report and Hickson had been warned he was facing custody.

Laura Saunders-Jerrom, defending, said that on the night in question Hickson had fought with his partner, Peter, who had asked him to leave their home.

"He had nowhere to go, no money on him and no one to go home to," said Ms Saunders-Jerrom.

The court heard that Hickson, who was off-duty, went into the hotel and used keys kept behind the bar to open a locked office and break into the safe.

He had a long list of previous convictions dating back to an affray when he was 16 and had been in and out of custody.

He had been hospitalised as a teenager and was treated for depression and had now joined support groups to try to curb his gambling and alcohol addictions.

The hotel is owned by millionaire businessman Duncan Bannatyne who has starred on TV show Dragon's Den.

After retiring to consider a sentence, chairwoman of the bench Patricia Wilson said: "We do not feel our sentencing powers are sufficient. You will be sent to Teesside Crown Court for sentencing."