Susanne Tetzlaff pleaded guilty to theft when she appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court
A CLEANER who stole thousands of pounds of jewellery and cash from the homes of clients has avoided jail.
Susanne Tetzlaff helped herself to the jewellery from elderly clients she cleaned for, even on one occasiontaking items after going to a house for an interview about a possible cleaning job.
She also stole hundreds of pounds in savings from the staff quarters at the Oldwalls wedding venue on Gower — hiding the cash box in a bag of rubbish to smuggle it out of the premises.
The court heard Tetzlaff was battling a long-standing heroin habit, which at the height of her addiction saw her spending £90 a day on the drug.
The 41-year-old, of Powys Avenue, Townhill, pleaded guilty to thefts in Oldwalls, at a house in Derwen Fawr, and a retirement home in Sketty when she appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court.
She asked for another theft of jewellery from a house in Dunvant to be taken into account.
Tetzlaff also pleaded guilty to an incident unrelated to her work when she stole a handbag from a customer in Swansea's LC leisure centre.
A probation report into the defendant said she was battling a 20-year addiction to heroin, and had at one time successfully moved to a prescription for drug-replacement medication — until a new partner had persuaded her to stop treatment.
The court heard that last year she began "dabbling" in drugs again, and got into financial difficulties and rent arrears due to the unpredictable nature of her zero-hours contract.
Craig Harding, for Tetzlaff, said his client realised she had breached the trust of her clients and could "never make it up to them" for her behaviour.
He said her current employers were close friends who "are aware of the demons she is battling" and are prepared to stand by her.
The solicitor added that Tetzlaff had now been clean of drugs for a week, and was determined to turn her life around and was attending a range of organisations and self-help groups.
The court heard some of the stolen items and money had been returned it their rightful owners, but some had been sold to Gold Reserves in Swansea and subsequently melted-down.
District Judge Neil Thomas, sitting at the magistrates court, said the thefts from elderly clients had been "despicable" — but he said he believed Tetzlaff's contrition was genuine, and that she was clearly somebody with a good work ethic. He said a period of immediate custody would put a halt to her rehabilitation and impact on her family, and opted for a suspended sentence instead — the district judge sentenced her to a total of 20 weeks in prison suspended for 24 months and ordered her to complete a drug rehabilitation course.
The judge also ordered Tetzlaff to pay a total of £2,437 in compensation to her victims — including Gold Reserves — at a rate of £10 a fortnight. Solicitor Mr Harding said his client was determined to pay back the money — however long it took.
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Cleaner-stole-jewellery-elderly-clients/story-29258705-detail/story.html#ixzz48McitQhv
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