IPSWICH: A man stole money from two doctors while working as a cleaner at Ipswich Hospital, a court has heard.

Vitor Hugo Ricardo was working at the Heath Road site when he entered a doctors’ room on Claydon Ward on April 12 and stole �30 from a handbag.

However, after a series of thefts being reported in the doctors’ room in the past, CCTV had been installed.

After being viewed, Ricardo, 25, was seen entering the room and taking the money from the bag. He was also seen going through three other bags in the room.

After being arrested by police, Ricardo, of Cavendish Street, also admitted taking �20 from a second doctors bag sometime between April 12 and 13.

At South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary.

Neil Saunders, representing Ricardo, said: “He was working there as a cleaner and money was tight. He was desperate. He wished that he could turn back the clock but he cannot and he has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”

Magistrates handed Ricardo a community order for 12 months and ordered him to do 80 hours of unpaid work in the community.

He was also told to pay �30 and �20 in compensation to the two doctors who he took the money from.