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London Hilton cleaner in ‘organised crime group’ stole nearly £200k worth of jewellery, court told

Sabrina Rova
Sabrina Rova

A five-star Park Lane hotel cleaner wept in court as she admitted stealing nearly £200,000 worth of jewellery from a wealthy guest’s bedroom.

A court heard that Sabrina Rova, 23, also swiped a credit card while working at the London Hilton on Park Lane, near Buckingham Palace, on July 7.

The Romanian national used the card to buy goods at the nearby Footlocker store on Oxford Street, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Alex Matthews said the cleaner was part of an “organised crime group” who stole jewellery worth £187,000 from one of the hotel’s guests.

The London Hilton on Park Lane is situated in the exclusive area of Mayfair and costs hundreds of pounds per night. It overlooks Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and Westminster.

Mr Matthews told the court that the starting point for any jail sentence should be three years.

Rova, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Bronzefield, sobbed and said “I’m sorry” after she admitted burglary and fraud.

Judge Nicholas Rimmer told Rova: “I know you are upset. You are not going to be sentenced today so I’m going to ask you to try and calm yourself down and listen to what is going on.

“The criminality entails that whilst working as a trusted employee for the Hilton Hotel you helped yourself to £187,000 worth of jewellery from a guest’s bedroom.

“There is a real prospect that you will receive a custodial sentence but it is also said there is another matter of even a higher value in the pipeline.”

She could be seen on the video link praying on her knees while weeping and holding a rosary as the judge remanded her in custody ahead of sentence on January 27.