A callous cleaner pocketed priceless family heirlooms rooms, cash and jewellery whilst she was hired by her victims to dust, polish and hoover their homes.
Mum-of-two Brenda Carberry, 55, snuck into rooms which she was told were out of bounds to her - then plundered various items to auction on eBay.
On one occasion, Carberry stole a gold bracelet and an inherited gold ring from a couple with Alzheimer's. She also stole watches, a coin purse and a designer Ted Baker handbag between July 2022 and March 2023.
Carberry, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, was arrested after one the victims noticed stolen items listed for sale on her eBay account. Also listed was stolen perfume and a number of other items belonging to other individuals. It is thought she raided five properties.
She claimed she carried out the thefts to pay for household bills.
In a statement Stan Owen, who had £50 taken from his wallet, said it felt like a 'slap in the face' as he was paying her an enhanced wage and added: "The worst thing is that I may have been in the property when she stole my things."
Another victim Clare Carrier said: "I am truly upset by this as I trusted her to clean my house." Mark Reeves said, "I am shocked as I allowed her access to my home, only for her to abuse that trust."
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Carberry was sentenced to 12 months jail suspended for 18 months after she admitted five charges of burglary with intent to steal. She was also ordered her to undertake 15 rehabilitation activity hours and 80 hours of unpaid work in the community.
In prosecuting, Mr Edmund Potts said: "In early February of this year, Clare Carrier contacted a local cleaning services company to clean her house.
"When the defendant attended the address, Carrier instructed her not to enter her bedroom office during her clean, as she had a number of items in their related to her business. The defendant cleaned for her on two separate occasions. On the 23rd of February, Carrier noticed that her coin purse and designer Ted Baker handbag were missing from the bedroom office.
'Her suspicion led her to search for the items on eBay, and she soon found them listed for sale on the defendant's eBay account.
Also listed was her stolen perfume and a number of other items belonging to other individuals."
"She was arrested on the 13th of March 2023 and taken to Cheadle custody suite for interview. She admitted to four burglaries of houses she'd cleaned between July 2022 and March 2023, but did not reveal the full extent of her offences."
"After she was released on conditional bail, a Mark Reeves told police that the defendant had also taken £30 in cash from his property. A Ms Featherstone told the defendant the ground floor of her property was out of bounds but found £40 was also taken.
"Stan Owen, a pensioner with Alzheimer's who lives with his wife Stella had £50 stolen from his wallet. Due to his condition, he initially questioned himself, but his thoughts were confirmed after the other thefts came to light. Stella also had a gold bracelet and gold wedding ring stolen from their address.
"The wedding ring had been given to her by her own mother and was of great sentimental value to her. Her daughter, Tracey Maguire, found the ring had been sold on the defendant's eBay account. However, it could not be recovered."
"Sarah Stuchfield saw her watch listed on the defendant's eBay. It had been sold, but the buyer was identified, and the item was recovered."
"Police attended the defendant's address twice after her initial arrest to question her about the new allegations. Each time, she admitted to the further allegations of stolen items and handed over the items, which were stored in her home.
She had previous convictions but has not been before the court in 11 years.
In mitigation, her counsel Nick Roxborough mentioned Carberry's "difficult family circumstances and mental health struggles" as an explanation for her behaviour but refused to go into full detail in open court.
He added: "She succumbed to temptation to support her own financial shortcomings. She showed remorse and is visibly emotional. She asked me to apologise to the victims, although they might not be happy with it. ;;
In sentencing, the judge Mr Recorder Michael Hayton KC told Carberry: "Many of the items taken were hugely sentimental to their owners. One can only imagine how upsetting having a wedding ring being stolen is.
"I understand you did not steal as part of a sophisticated criminal scheme, but rather to pay the household bills. However, this is a grotesque breach of trust. Although these offences pass the custody threshold, I will not be sending you to prison today, in part as a result of the particular personal circumstances you have experienced recently."
