Carer’s jewellery theft serious breach of trust
A WOMAN’S theft of Italian gold jewellery from the elderly and frail parents of celebrity chef Massimo Mele was a serious breach of trust of the couple she was meant to be caring for, a court has heard.
Mary Ann Walker, 50, appeared in Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday for a sentencing hearing after being found guilty last year of two counts of stealing.
Walker was engaged to provide care for the couple, but stole two gold chains and a gold ring in October 2018.
She sold the items at Cash Converters for a total of $480, the court heard.
The case has been delayed because of disagreement over the value of the items, with Tony Harrison, who owns For the Love of Gold in Liverpool Street, previously valuing them at a combined $10,312.
That issue, including Mr Harrison’s credentials, was again raised during Thursday’s hearing, but the prosecution and defence agreed it was up to Magistrate Robert Webster to decide how much weight he gave to the evidence of the valuer.
During sentencing submissions, police prosecutor Gerard Kirkham described the theft as a “blatant breach of trust”.
“She was caring for two elderly and infirm people, whose first language wasn’t English, who lived together alone, Mr Mele having suffered a stroke and in need of care,’’ he said.
“She was there to look after and care for those people in their time of need. She was in a position of trust and the complainants were in a position of vulnerability.
“They relied on her trust and her honesty, and she exploited that.”
Mr Kirkham said the items were of great sentimental value to the family and if not for good police work and some good fortune, they may have been lost forever.
He said Walker’s offending was one of the more serious breaches of trust he had encountered, and suggested the magistrate consider imposing a custodial sentence.
But Walker’s defence lawyer Craig Rainbird said more significant breaches of trust had come before the court, some involving employees who had stolen many thousands worth of goods from employers, and they hadn’t always ended in a jail term.
Mr Rainbird said Walker, a mother of two, had lost her employment as a result of the incident in December 2018 and had suffered financially.
He said his client had been looking for work ever since.
Mr Rainbird urged Magistrate Webster to consider imposing a suspended sentence or community service.
Mr Webster ordered a presentence report to be done, including an assessment for home detention.
Walker will reappear court for sentence in June. in