A 27-YEAR-OLD woman who made off from an Enniskillen hotel without paying for an overnight stay for Valentine’s Day three years ago told police that she thought her partner had paid for the accommodation in cash, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Christine Eileen Amanda Coulter, of Drumcree Place, Newtownabbey, pleaded guilty to dishonestly making off without paying for an overnight stay at the Killyhevlin Hotel, costing £140, on February 13, 2015.

The court heard that the defendant had booked the room for herself and her partner through the website, booking.com.

However, after their overnight stay, the couple left the Fermanagh hotel without paying.

Staff at the hotel later tried to make the payment using the credit card details left on the website, but the card was declined.

Subsequent efforts to contact Coulter via telephone, e-mail and letter proved fruitless.

Then, on April 6, 2017, police spoke to the defendant at her home address.

During a notebook interview, she admitted staying at the hotel but claimed that her partner at the time had agreed to pay for the room.

Her lawyer told the court that the pair had gone away for St. Valentine’s Day.

He explained that the arrangement had been that his client would pay for dinner, while her partner would pay for the room. The lawyer said that Coulter had paid for the food and thought her partner had used cash to pay for their accommodation.

Taking into account that the offence occurred three years ago, district judge Nigel Broderick observed that, on this occasion, he would impose a fine. However, he added that the hotel would have to be compensated for their loss. The judge imposed a £150 fine, a £140 Compensation Order and a £15 offender levy.