Cleaner Denise Marshall, 56, steals wedding ring and AirPods from clients’ homes to sell for meth

A court has heard a domestic cleaner who stole a client’s wedding ring to fund a meth addiction broke a special bond of trust required in her profession.

An ice-addicted domestic cleaner who stole a wedding ring from a client’s house to fund her habit broke a special bond of trust that allows residents to trust strangers with their property, a court has heard.

Appearing “extremely remorseful and embarrassed” at Cleveland Magistrates Court yesterday Wellington Point woman Denise Marshall, 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing and two counts of fraud – dishonestly gain benefit or advantage.

“Her drug of choice is ice,” explained a police prosecutor who said Marshall had stolen the wedding ring from a Tingalpa property while employed by Hay Presto Cleaning.

The court heard Marshall pilfered the ring on January 30 and sold it to Brisbane Gold Buyers for $715 on the same day.

Police tracked the cleaner after she used her licence to provide identification at the broker.

The court was told Marshall on November 27 stole Apple AirPods at a Wynnum house from a client’s wardrobe and sold them on for $80 at Cash Converters on November 30.

Police tracked Denise Marshall through her licence after a fraudulent sale. Generic image used. Pic Jono Searle.

The offending was the first in three years after a 2017 entry for an unrelated matter, according to the prosecution.

Both items were recovered.

Defence solicitor Tania Lacy said her client had suffered a relapse during a difficult period and relationship woes, was “extremely remorseful and embarrassed” and found support through her church

Ms Lacy said Marshall had since sought drug counselling and had lost her job as a cleaner.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta regarded the offending as serious but acknowledged its mitigating circumstances.

“People who allow strangers into their house do so trusting that their property won’t just be stolen and sold for drugs,” Magistrate Vasta said.

“I do consider it a serious offence, however you don’t have any history of dishonesty offences.”

MORE COURT STORIES:

Granny uses thousands of dollars from friends’ accounts to fund scams

59-year-old man commits fraud with credit cards stolen from bank manager wife’s office

‘Naive’ fraud scheme pockets 19-year-old man funds for cannabis, Xanax, wine and vodka

Marshall was sentenced to two years’ probation with convictions recorded.

The defendant was also ordered to pay $795.00 in restitution for the fraudulently sold items.