IT should have been a quiet night at Hereford’s Green Dragon Hotel.

But the venue’s new night porter, Mark Davies, had other ideas – involving drink, his friends and a night of excess.

Worcester Crown Court heard last week how Davies, aged 27, stole £1,650 and left a trail of destruction at his new employers.

But his antics on April 20, 2007 – which involved thieving from two safes and a food fight in the hotel lounge – led to four charges of theft and one count of criminal damage.

Last Wednesday’s hearing was told that Davies, of Crossfields, Whitecross, was 20 days into his new job when the incident happened.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, said Davies had called himself “honest and reliable” on his CV – while failing to list 21 convictions for 40 offences, mostly involving dishonesty. One of these took place at the Green Dragon in June 1999, when he left with an unpaid food bill and a room in disrepair after booking in with a stolen credit card.

Mr Aspinall told the court that on the night of April 20, Davies invited his friends into the hotel and altogether consumed £362 of food and drink before starting a food fight in the lounge. He added that Davies stole five bottles of champagne and £1,650 from two safes, using the keys entrusted to him.

Mr Aspinall told the court that Davies blamed the fracas on hotel guests. The Green Dragon put the total cost at £2,661.

“The guests were appalled that day because it was clear that something horrible had happened,” said Mr Aspinall.

“They also had scenes of crime officers swarming around the hotel and the whole incident deeply affected staff.” Davies – who was arrested at 5am outside the hotel with a bottle of champagne – pleaded guilty to stealing the drink at a hearing at Hereford Magistrates, but not guilty to three other charges of theft and criminal damage. He was subsequently found guilty on April 1 at Hereford Crown Court.

James Dickson, for Davies, told the court the defendant was hard-working and called the incident a relapse, caused by alcohol.

Judge David Matthews handed Davies a 12-month sentence for stealing the money and food, three months for stealing the champagne and three months for causing criminal damage. The sentences will run concurrently.

“In my judgement this was a particularly serious breach of the considerable trust that had been placed in you by your employers,” said Judge Matthews.