A CARER who plundered two old ladies' savings and helped herself to almost £12,000 in a year has begun a six-month jail term.

Mother-of-three Gillian Thornton, 32, took her family to Disneyland and bought electrical goods, food and drink at the expense of her two victims.

One was an 81-year-old who was recovering from a stroke and the other was 74 and blind, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Judge David Pirie told her she had grossly abused the pensioners' trust, but it was in the interests of her children, all of whom had problems, that she should be free to look after them as soon as possible.

The judge said: "The elderly and the frail who are totally dependent upon other people for their care have to be protected."

Thornton, of Ripon Street, Nelson, admitted ten allegations of theft and asked for 23 offences to be taken into consideration. She had been committed for sentence by Pennine magistrates.

The judge ordered her to over £4,000 of her savings as compensation.

Kendal Lindley, prosecuting, said the eldest victim was looked after by assistants from Complete Care Services, Barrowford.

Thornton was empowered to draw cash from the victim's building society account, to pay Complete Care and for day-to-day expenses.

Thornton "systematically plundered" the woman's account, withdrawing more than £10,000 to which she was not entitled. When Thornton's house was searched, police found a lot of wrapped toys, a computer, electrical goods and jewellery, plus a lot of alcohol.

Officers also found four invoices made out by the care firm to the 74-year-old, who believed Thornton had paid them.

The woman had come to trust Thornton and let her withdraw her pension.

When the defendant was interviewed, she said she had got into debt and used the 81-year-old's cash to pay off debts and buy electrical goods, food and drink.

She had also taken her family to Disneyland.

The 81-year-old was now in a nursing home because of her health and because her finances were so depleted.

Paul Hague, defending, said the offences took place after Thornton, who took home £100-£120 a week, had been in hospital, was off work for 12 weeks and the loss of her income made a big dent in the family budget.

The defendant had repaid £800 taken from the 74-year-old to Complete Care Services and the family had got together £4,000 to compensate the stroke victim.

The loss of Thornton's liberty would cause her family even greater financial difficulties.

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