The Duke and Duchess of Westminster say it was important justice was done in relation to a cleaner who admitted stealing more than £1,000 from their Eaton Hall home in Chester.
Hidden cameras caught Paula Louise Jones, 49, pinching the cash, in Sterling and Euros, from a handbag belonging to the Duchess, Natalia Grosvenor.
Jones, from Kent Road, Wrexham, was told to complete 100 hours unpaid work and sentenced to a 12 month community order at Chester Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Monday February 24).
Jane Sandars, a spokeswoman for the Duke and Duchess, said: “This crime was reported by the Duchess of Westminster and the decision to prosecute Paula Jones, who pleaded ‘guilty’, was taken by the Police and Crown Prosecution service in the usual way.
“The Duke and Duchess do not intend to comment on any details of the crime, the court hearing nor any aspects of the magistrates’ decision but they did feel that it was important to see justice done for a crime committed in their own home.”
Ian Barnes, defending, told the court his client had suffered from depression since the death of her husband 20 years ago and found stealing money ‘made a slight lift in her mood’.
The cleaner, who admitted the thefts and quit her employment at the Duke’s estate, was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
