A thieving cleaner nicked thousands of pounds worth of gold and jewels from a vulnerable elderly couple.
Ashley Birch, 38, got nabbed on film rifling through her victims jewellery stash after the old lady’s carer had rigged up a secret camera.
Birch had landed herself a job cleaning for Alma Aigo and her husband, who was battling dementia, after Mrs Aigo took a tumble back in March.
READ MORE: ‘My sons endured hell over my racy job like Kerry Katona but I wasn’t built for Asda’
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
The worker from Peachy Clean, who hails from Dacre Court, Birkenhead, had been in the couple’s home for about four weeks when Mrs Aigo clocked that her engagement ring was missing from its box in the bedroom.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
She was unable to wear the ring beccause her hand ballooned up after her accident.
But as well as the ring, other jewellery including a ring from her departed mum were also gone. Mrs Aigo told her carer, Jo Turnbull, who then stuck CCTV in the bedroom.
Next time Birch dropped by, the cameras caught her red-handed as she searched through Mrs Aigos jewellery box, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Birch ended up in Liverpool Crown Court today, admitting to the theft. The court was presented with texts the desperate cleaner fired off to Ms Turnbull post-confrontation about the AWOL jewellery.
She admitted in a text: “Look, I know I’ve f****d up and I’m truly sorry. Everything will be back by the end of next week, I’m sorry.”
She went on to say, “It’s my mess and I done it”, promising that she would reimburse for the stolen jewellery after pawning it in Birkenhead.
On July 1, the thief’s mother returned one of the victim’s missing pieces, a ruby ring, but left the engagement ring and another precious piece from Ms Aigo’s late mother unreturned. Still missing were valuables worth approximately £3,700, including a gold ring bedecked with rubies and diamonds, a solitary diamond ring, and some gold earrings.
Heartbroken, Mrs Aigo revealed: “Having found out what Ashley has done to me and my family after we trusted her, me and my family have been left in disbelief. I have not told my husband about the theft as I don’t believe he would he able to trust anybody ever again. My husband is vulnerable and suffers from dementia, therefore I have been so emotional thinking about how a person could do this to us.”
She went on: “I have found myself feeling very upset and crying numerous times. Ashley’s actions have left me with no trust in people. I dread strangers coming to my home. I’m paranoid when I can’t find things, thinking Ashley may have taken them. I don’t think I could ever let another cleaner into my home as I’m too scared of them.”
Birch is a mother-of-three with a rap sheet of eight previous convictions, including six for theft. Her defence lawyer, John Weate, said: “The offence occurred during a time she was in a relationship that was creating financial and emotional hardship. She had to care for three children and the temptation of securing additional funds is what led her to the offence. As a consequence of the offending, she now lives alone.”
Weate painted a picture of Birch’s fractured family life, saying: “The family relationship is difficult. She’s the mother to three children. She doesn’t have the care of those children because of historical matters. Her young daughter has been adopted and the second child under 18 is living with his father.”
Birch, who reportedly battles anxiety and depression, was subject to domestic violence according to Weate, who emphasized that she’s considered a low risk to the public.
Judge Mr Recorder McBride, said: “This was a despicable offence which the court takes seriously. Mrs Aigo hasn’t even been able to tell her husband because of his difficulties. She has suffered her mental health. She can’t trust strangers to come to her property because of you…. In terms of your own personal matters, I’m told this was at a time when you were in your own hardship. That was no excuse to take from these people.”
He sentenced Birch to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He also ordered 15 rehabilitation days, a 12 month mental health treatment programme, and three months curfew.