Cleaner jailed for stealing £28,000 of jewellery from home

A WOMAN who stole £28,000 worth of jewellery from a Brockenhurst home where she worked as a cleaner has been jailed for 15 months.

Clair Smith (48), took eight items, including rings, bracelets and ear-rings, between December 2018 and April 2019, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Smith sold three pieces of the jewellery to a Southampton pawn shop for around £1,000 – money she used to pay for trips abroad.

The other five pieces stolen have not been recovered, the court was told.

Smith, who lives in Southampton, was caught out when police investigated and recovered the items from the pawn shop.

She pleaded guilty to charges of theft and fraud.