It was no laughing matter in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday when a lawyer explained to the court how she felt when she found her house almost empty when she entered the dwelling.

The accused, Norma Russell, appeared before the court for sentencing after it was alleged that she had stolen furniture and various items of jewellery from her employer.

Russell, who told the court that she just wanted to get over the matter, was given a prison term of nine months for her actions.

This prison term was as a result of a nine-month suspended sentence she received in the same court in 2002 under the name of Andrea Cooper.

Russell, who has four children, was hired by the complainant as a domestic helper. On arriving home, she came home to a 'clean house' with the accused nowhere to be found.

The items stolen from the house, which included furniture and jewellery, were sold by Russell. On finding the accused, a piece jewellery owned by the complainant was found in her son's possession.

The complainant asked the judge to be lenient with Russell's son, describing him as a decent human being, indicating that whatever part he played in the crime was influenced by his mother. She (the complainant) also asked the judge to let him attend counselling or to pay for his actions in the form of community service.

Russell's son has not made his plea as yet.