A ‘DESPICABLE’ carer who secretly stole from her disabled friends as she helped them cope with debilitating illnesses has avoided jail.

Susan Howard, 52, of St Mary’s Gardens, Mellor, raided the bank accounts of dementia sufferer Pauline Calvert and when she died, she repeated the trick on her grieving friend Anne Atkinson.

At Preston Crown Court yesterday, Howard was given a 10-month sentence, suspended for two years. She must abide by a 7pm-7am curfew for six months and must pay compensation.

She now owes Mrs Atkinson, who is housebound with kidney dialysis, £5,666 and was also ordered to give £2,503 to the estate of Mrs Calvert.

Police said she took cash, withdrew money from savings accounts, stole make-up, groceries and ordered household items and clothes using store cards.

In November she pleaded guilty to 26 charges of fraud and theft.

The investigation began in January 2010 when Mrs Atkinson, 64, of Woodford Road, Mellor, contacted her bank about money going missing from her account - withdrawals of £300 each time over several weeks amounting to around £6,000 in total.

Speaking after the case Mrs Atkinson said her former friend must be kept away from other vulnerable people.

She said: “I thought she might have been sent down, but maybe it is because her own mobility is not very good.

“I don’t know who is going to pay me this money back, because everything she’s got is via benefits. But I’m glad I’ll get something - whenever that may be.

“I’m still angry at what she did. Pauline died thinking she was mistaken, but she was being abused by Susan Howard. I don’t go out anymore, yet she’s got her freedom.”

Ribble Valley PC Michelle Boggis set up a sting operation with marked bank notes in Mrs Atkinson’s purse which finally caught Howard out.

It prompted the family of Mrs Calvert to come forward. Mrs Calvert died aged 69, in April 2009, following a period of illness and the onset of dementia.

Her ‘friend’ and carer Howard secretly stole around £3,000 in total from her accounts and bought herself items from a catalogue account.