Jewellery cleaned out

A cleaner who stole thousands of dollars worth of jewellery under the cover of house-moving confusion then brazenly wore it in front of its rightful owner.

Danielle Molly-rose Gaskell was initially charged with stealing $10,000 worth of jewellery, but police eventually settled on her pilfering $3800 worth.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to theft in the Palmerston North District Court on Wednesday.

She was sentenced to 80 hours’ community work. Gaskell was also ordered to pay $500 reparation by Judge Gerard Lynch.

The judge said Gaskell was employed as the victim’s cleaner at the time of the theft in April 2015.

The victim was in the process of moving house when her jewellery box went missing.

‘‘It was plain that during the confusion of the move you had stolen the jewellery belonging to her,’’ the judge told Gaskell.

Gaskell wore the jewellery, confidently pretending like it was her own.

‘‘[Gaskell] saw the victim from time to time, but concealed the jewellery so it was not recognised,’’ the judge said.

Police eventually tracked down the jewellery.

The judge said the victim felt let down, violated and angry about what happened.

‘‘She was very trusting, but is now very cautious.’’

Gaskell had no previous convictions for dishonesty and was unable to pay a fine, although the judge said a fine would not be a strong enough punishment.