A cleaner who stole jewellery and a purse worth more than £22,000 from the home of a vulnerable woman in her 80s has been jailed. Michelle Black, 40, of Vine Street, Runcorn, was sentenced to 38 months in prison for theft and fraud by false representation at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, August 6.
Discovery of the theft
Black had been employed as a part-time cleaner for the victim, who lives in Frodsham. In March last year, the victim noticed a brown purse had gone missing. While searching her home, she also discovered a "significant" amount of jewellery, valued at more than £22,000, was missing.
Black was the only person alone at the address with the victim around the time the items were believed to have gone missing, and she was reported to Cheshire Police. Officers found that Black had previous convictions for similar offences.
Admission and sentencing
Black admitted to police that she had stolen some of the jewellery and stated she took three rings to a pawnbroker. She initially denied stealing the other items but later pleaded guilty to the offences in court.
Police said approximately £8,000 worth of the jewellery has since been recovered.
Police reaction
PC Malone said: "Black was entrusted to clean the home of an elderly woman and instead of helping the victim, she caused her an immense amount of stress, knowing that her personal belongings had been stolen and sold on.
"This was a complete breach of trust, something which Black already had previous convictions for – she had clearly not learnt her lesson and had no regard for how her selfish actions affected the victim.
"I welcome the custodial sentence handed to her and hope the victim can be reassured that she has been brought to justice."
