$380K ring stolen from sick employer

GOLD COAST - When Blue Nurse carer Gail Anne Docherty stole a ring from her sick employer, she had no idea how much it was worth - or how much trouble it would get her into.

The stone was a blue diamond, one of the rarest in the world, and the ring was worth almost $300,000 ($381,970.97).

Docherty was sentenced to three years' jail for stealing and fraud, but will be eligible for parole in 12 months.

Southport Magistrates Court was told that while working as a carer for a man in Broadbeach in November 2007, Docherty stole the ring from his wife's handbag and sold it to a local pawn shop for $30,000, claiming it was a gift from her ex-husband.

The pawn shop owner then sold the ring for $100,000.

When the ring was reported missing, police checked all pawn shop sales and soon discovered it, and Docherty, who used her driver's licence as identification when she hocked it.

Police said the 58-year-old told them she wanted the money to pay off her growing credit card bills.

- AAP