Lana Jayne Pontt to continue working as cleaner after stealing $90,000 of jewellery from clients

A cleaner who stole $90,000 worth of jewellery from clients’ homes will serve her sentence on home detention – allowing her to continue working to pay compensation.

A cleaner who swindled more than $90,000 worth of precious heirlooms and jewellery from her clients has been ordered to serve her sentence on home detention to allow her to continue working and pay compensation to her victims.

Lana Jayne Pontt, 46, of Ridgehaven, remains employed as a cleaner after stealing $91,728 worth of items from clients’ homes between February 2017 and March 2019. She pawned the items to second hand dealers.

She appeared in the District Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to five aggravated and two basic counts of dishonestly taking property without consent.

In sentencing, Judge Paul Cuthbertson said Pontt’s breach of trust was significant, and her offences “fully considered” because they occurred over a period of time.

“The offender has used the fact she was given permission to get into the privacy of the victims’ homes and to breach the great trust given to her by stealing objects of great value and great sentimental value and disposing of them for financial reward in circumstances where there might only be a small chance of their recovery,” the judge said.

“While insurance can recompense for the loss of many objects, no insurance can make up for the loss of treasured sentimental objects, particularly for older individuals.”

Lana Jayne Pontt hides her face as she leaves the District Court on Thursday.

Lana Jayne Pontt outside court after an earlier hearing. Picture: Michael Marschall

Judge Cuthbertson said at the time of her offending Pontt was dealing with stress, including the loss of her father and a coercive control relationship.

“Prior to the commencement of the offending she had pawned a lot of her own property in an attempt to build up a fund to acquire a house and furniture for her and her children when she separated,” he said.

He said Pontt had helped police recover some of the items she had stolen from second hand dealers and was “prepared to pay every cent back”.

The court has previously heard one victim, who had requested Pontt be her regular cleaner while recovering from “catastrophic” spinal fractures sustained in a crash because she “did a good job and was very friendly”.

But, Pontt went on to steal “almost every item of jewellery” the client owned including her beloved grandmother’s wedding ring which Pontt later pawned “for a pittance”.

Another victim lost more than $64,000 of his ailing wife’s jewellery, including irreplaceable heirlooms.

Judge Cuthbertson said Pontt continued to work for the same employer, who is aware of her offending, but she now works only on industrial cleans.

He ordered she serve a one year and 10-month head sentence, with a non-parole period of 14 months on home detention to allow her to work. He ordered she pay $25,829 sought by her victims in compensation.