A CARE home boss who stole more than £30,000 from an 87-year-old resident to fuel her online gambling addiction has been warned she faces prison.

Julie Williams' offending only came to light in April last year when she walked into Burnley Police Station saying she had taken an overdose of pain killers and needed to be punished for stealing money from Clifford Goodall.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the 50-year-old mother-of-two had worked as manager at Hilton Residential Home in Padiham for 15 years.

She had gained the trust of Mr Goodall to such an extent that he gave her his bank card and pin number to withdraw money on his behalf, the prosecution said.

But the court heard that Williams, of Partridge Hill Street, Padiham, began to abuse that trust in January 2015 by making cash withdrawals of up to £250 on an almost daily basis to fund her addiction to online slot machines.

Prosecutor Stephen Parker said that her addiction was so severe that Williams would on occasion gamble an entire month's wages and then transfer money into her bank account to pay her bills.

Mr Parker said: "The police investigation itself began in an unusual way.

"Shortly after 4.20pm on April 25 last year the defendant walked into Burnley Police Station saying she had consumed 40 to 50 tablets.

"While there she told PC Hussain 'I have done a horrible thing. I have been stealing money from one of the residents where I have been working. I just want to die. I want to kill myself. I have got a gambling addiction. I thought I would make it back but I just got deeper and deeper. Arrest me. I don't deserve to live. I won't be able to live in Padiham'."

The prosecutor said that because of the police's concern for her welfare Williams was transferred to Burnley General Hospital and she spent three weeks in the psychiatric ward.

After being released from hospital, Williams was interviewed by police, and she made 'full and frank admissions' regarding the fraud.

Mr Parker said: "She said she worked at the care home for 15 years.

"On one particular occasion Mr Goodall had given her the card because he needed a payment to be made.

"On that occasion he provided her with his pin number. On another occasion he asked her to take money from his bank account. He said to her she should keep the card because he trusted her."

Mr Parker said the fraud totalled £30,388.

Williams, who has no previous convictions, told police she had no money of her own to repay the debt and 'is in the red'.

But the court heard that she had a 50 per cent stake in a £40,000 house in Padiham, which she co-owns with her ex-partner.

Mr Parker said the victim, who was originally from London, had intended to move back home to be closer to his family, but decided not to as he wanted to stay with Williams, who he described as a 'good 'un'.

Judge Graham Knowles QC adjourned the case until July 21 for financial investigations to be carried out.

That hearing will be held at Preston Crown Court and Williams was given unconditional bail.

Judge Knowles said: "I make it absolutely clear to you that I am not dropping any kind of hints to you about what will happen to you depending on the results of these financial enquiries.

"Every option including immediate imprisonment is open to me on that occasion."

In a probation report Williams was described as someone who had long suffered from depression but had not asked for help because of the stigma she thought it would attract.

Defending, Philip Holden, said: "She has had this hanging over her for 12 months.

"She has led in that period of time a very isolated existence, barely leaving her home.

"Partly because of the exacerbation of her mental health and partly because of these proceedings. She's still of the view she needs to be punished."