A chambermaid who stole a suitcase from newlyweds containing thousands of pounds worth of valuables has been ordered to pay £5,000 compensation.

Mother-of-four Miluta Albei, of Oakwood Gardens, Seven Kings, pleaded guilty to theft by finding at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday (August 31).

She admitted taking the black case from outside the Ellesmere Gardens home of the couple as she returned home from work on March 16.

The court heard that luggage belonging to the husband and wife was delivered to their home before the big day but was left on their driveway.

When they noticed a day later that it was missing they checked a neighbour’s CCTV and spotted Albei coming up their driveway before grabbing the bag.

The couple demanded Albei return it when they spotted her in the street five days later.

The 39-year-old tried to, but the unhappy couple claimed all the expensive items were missing.

A police search of Albei’s house failed to recover any valuables.

Defending, Sudara Weerasena argued that Albei had found the case on the pavement next to a pile of rubbish.

“It is easy to understand why she might have thought it was a discarded item. This was not sophisticated. It wasn’t planned,” Miss Weerasena said.

The court heard that Albei wanted a suitcase for a trip to Romania, where she received treatment for an irregular heart beat.

She claimed on opening it all she saw were clothes, insisting to the court there was no gold or jewellery inside.

She told the court she had wanted to return it, but feared she would be labelled a thief because of her nationality.

The court heard Albei, seen weeping in the dock, was worried what her children would think of her. She was sacked from her job because of the offence.

“She is remorseful. She accepted her responsibility from the beginning. It was done in a moment of impulse,” Miss Weerasena said.

Albei was given a 12-month community order and four-week curfew stopping her from leaving the house between 7pm and 7am.

She was fined £500, given an £85 victim surcharge and ordered to pay the £5,000 compensation.