A 58-year-old senior caregiver has narrowly escaped a prison sentence after admitting stealing $32,000 of jewellery from two elderly women in a retirement home. One of the elderly women has since died. Sinei Lisiate, aka Christina Aiavao, appeared for sentencing before Judge Richard Mcilraith at Manukau District Court this week after earlier pleading guilty to two charges of theft of items over $1000. She faced a maximum penalty of seven years’ jail on each charge. Lisiate, who at the time resided in Bucklands Beach, was sentenced to six months’ community detention which means she is able to leave the house but is on a curfew. She needs to be home between the hours of 8pm and 6am Monday-Sunday. She is also under probation supervision for a year and was ordered to pay reparation of $20,000 at $20 a week. The court heard Lisiate’s first victim was an 88-year-old woman (details are suppressed) residing at the Pakuranga Park Village retirement home. The second victim at the home was 79 and has since died. Lisiate, who worked there between September 2012 and June 2016, worked night shifts. In March 2016 the first victim suffered a fall and was admitted to hospital. At 11.50pm on March 7 and 9, Lisiate entered the unit using a spare set of keys she had access to. She removed several items of jewellery including diamond and sapphire rings, bracelets and broaches valued at around $15,000.
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