An Adelaide cleaner who stole more than $90,000 worth of jewellery from several clients, including some who were elderly and had a disability, has kept her job and been ordered to use her earnings to compensate her victims.
Lana Jayne Pontt admitted to stealing more than $91,000 worth of jewellery from seven homes she was cleaning between 2017 and 2019.
The District Court heard the 46-year-old has maintained her job at A Plus State Cleaning Services — where she has worked since 2017 — but had been moved from cleaning residential homes to business and industrial sites.
During sentencing, Judge Paul Cuthbertson said two of the victims Pontt stole from were over the age of 60 and one had a physical disability.
Judge Cuthbertson said Pontt's crimes were planned and she had committed a significant breach of trust.
"The offender has used the fact that she was given permission to get into the privacy of the victims' home and breached the trust given to her by stealing objects of great value and great sentimental value, disposing of them for financial reward in circumstances where there might only be a small chance of their recovery," he said.
"While insurance can recompense the loss of many objects, no insurance can make up for the loss of treasured, sentimental objects particularly for older individuals."
Judge Cuthbertson said Pontt had committed the offences after a "series of unfortunate events" in her life and in a bid to keep a roof over her and her children's heads after leaving a "coercive, controlling" relationship.
He sentenced Pontt to one year and 10 months of home detention, saying he thought it was best the people who lost valuable items were compensated.
She will be allowed to leave her home at Ridgehaven to go to work while under home detention.
Judge Cuthbertson ordered Pontt pay more than $25,000 in compensation to several of the victims.
She will be eligible for parole in 14 months.
Judge Cuthbertson said Pontt was remorseful and had helped police during their investigation by informing them which pawnbrokers she had taken the stolen jewellery to.
The District Court heard the second-hand dealers who on-sold the stolen jewellery had also sought compensation but Judge Cuthbertson refused to accept their requests, saying Pontt would struggle to pay the money and the pawn shops were not victims in any of the charged offences.
Pontt shielded her face from the media as she left court to commenced her home detention.
