A nanny who stole nearly €6,000 worth of clothes and jewellery and grossly breached the trust of her employer was ordered to pay €2,000 compensation and was given a four month suspended sentence at Galway District Court last Monday.
Katrzyna Mielko (24 ) with an address at Kilcornan, Clarenbridge, pleaded guilty to stealing assorted ladies and gents’ clothing valued at €5,654 on a date unknown between January 1, 2007, and March 15, 2008, at her employer’s residence in Stradbally East, Clarinbridge.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that the defendant had worked as a nanny and during her employment had been stealing clothes and jewellery. He said that all the property had been recovered and that Mielko had no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor told the court that it was a pity that her client had got into this kind of trouble as she had built up a good relationship with her employer. She added that Mielko had betrayed the trust of someone and knows how serious it is. The defendant, who is married, is now hoping to return to Poland.
Judge Fahy pointed out that Mielko had had a long relationship in which her employer had been very good to her giving “extra bits and pieces”. “It was a gross breach of trust, it makes people more wary and suspicious,” she said.
When pressed for an explanation Ms Traynor said that the defendant’s employer would have told her that there were “a few bits there and take them with her”. She added that client had brought €2,000 into court.
“She felt she could take the lot,” replied Judge Fahy who ordered for the defendant to pay over the €2,000 to the injured party. She added that if the injured party did not want to accept the money it should be paid over to a charity of her choice.
Judge Fahy then imposed a four month sentence suspended for 12 months on her own bond of €300 on condition that Mielko keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
