Danielle Thomson and Mark Brodie stored their wedding cards in a special postbox which they took home to open two days later, but were dealt a ‘horrible shock’ after finding no money inside
A newlywed couple were left heartbroken after disovering a hotel worker had rummaged through their gifts and stolen the cash from their wedding cards. Danielle Thomson and Mark Brodie, both 30, tied the knot at Crutherland House Hotel in East Kilbride, Scotland in August 2023.
The pair stored any cards or gifts they received from loved-ones in a special postbox which they took home to open two days later, but were dealt a “horrible shock” after finding no money inside. Night shift hotel worker Craig Harrison, 37, was captured on the hotel’s security cameras opening envelopes, taking the cash, and then taping the envelopes closed again.
He was arrested by officers and pleaded guilty to theft of £900 at Hamilton Sheriff Court, South Lanarkshire, on February 10. Harrison was also ordered to pay £1,200 compensation to the couple, and a £1,000 fine on March 11. The hotel meanwhile refunded the couple £1,800, Danielle confirmed.
Danielle, from East Kilbride, who works in catering, said: “It was just such a horrible shock. Our wedding was lovely but we never got to enjoy the start of being married. It was very upsetting. The cards from my dad and grandad weren’t there at all. We had to go round and ask all our guests how much they gave us so we could tell the police – that felt very difficult. When people ask us about the wedding we want to talk about how great it was but this has overshadowed all of that.”
The couple tied the knot on August 19, 2023, and were horrified to learn their money had been stolen – leaving them with nothing but a series of empty envelopes that had been taped shut.
Parents-of-one Danielle, and Mark, who works in environmental services, spent around £5,000 for their wedding. Harrison will now have to pay the total of £2,200 by April 8. Danielle added: “It was a horrible thing to happen and has been made worse by the fact that it’s dragged on for ages. Weddings are expensive and planned to be the best day of your life, you just don’t expect something like this.”
A spokesperson from Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, which owns the hotel, said: “Our team take considerable care to keep our guests, and their belongings, safe during their visit. “The comprehensive and strict security measures in place at the hotel allowed us to act quickly and decisively. The incident, which occurred two years ago, was immediately reported to Police Scotland.”