Oswestry cleaner sold '£34,000 of stolen jewellery' for £130
A cleaner from Oswestry stole jewellery with an estimated value of more than £34,000 from the home of her disabled employer – and sold it for £130, a court heard.
Caroline Carkeet-James, 46, admitted the theft of the items that included a custom made white gold and diamond engagement ring which was believed to be worth £27,000 from the property in a village near Oswestry.
Carkeet-James admits the theft, but disputes the value of the ring.
The commissioned engagement ring was among several items found to be missing from the premises when the owners returned from holiday after leaving the defendant to feed the cat while they were away, Telford Magistrates Court heard.
Carkeet-James, of Summerfield Close, Oswestry, admitted theft between September 20 and 26.
Miss Abigail Hall, prosecuting, said the defendant was employed as a cleaner by the couple.
"She had previously worked for them years ago and was hired again in the summer of 2016 for two hours a week," she said.
Miss Hall said that when the couple returned from holiday on September 26 initially nothing appeared to be out of place, but on September 29 found that the engagement ring and other jewellery was missing.
"There was no sign of forced entry and the only other person with access to the property was the defendant."
Miss Hall said the police were called but a search of the defendant's home did not uncover any of the goods.
"The officers went through her finances and at that point she apologised and said she was 'sorry'.
"She told them she recalled taking an emerald and diamond ring and a signet ring with no stones, but had no recollection of the rest."
She said she sold them to a man for £130 at Oswestry Market.
District Judge Nigel Cadbury adjourned the case for further inquiries to be made about the value of the items.
Carkeet-James was granted conditional bail.
