A FORMER finance officer who stole £24,000 from people with severe levels of autism has been jailed for 14 months.

Julie Robb, 53, was told she had stole from the 'vulnerable' and was guilty of a serious breach of trust as she was imprisoned at Preston Crown Court for a catalogue of offences against the National Autistic Society.

Robb, of Cliff Street, Rishton, had helped herself to cash from several users of the society's services based at Margaret House in Queen Street, Great Harwood, the court heard.

Challenged about the thefts, the financier claimed, for one client, that she had opened up a new bank account so he could receive better terms of interest.

But investigations by auditors failed to show any evidence of this, amid suspicions that Robb had used the money to pay off a number of personal debtors.

Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting, said Robb began working for the charity in March 1999 but was sacked for gross misconduct, relating to a bogus invoice, in April 2007.

Her manager Helen Clarkson had become suspicious about how the finance officer had managed accounts relating to the society's users.

Robb admitted the theft of £12,366 and £3,500 from one service user, and four further theft charges, relating to sums totalling £2,700, £2,600 and £3,150, relating to two other people with severe autism.

Mr Grout-Smith said, in relation to the later offences, that she had obtained specimen signatures from the individuals, provided to her because of their special needs, which she used to gain access to their National Savings Bank accounts.

Jailing her, Judge Simon Newall said the court was "surprised" to see a woman of 53, with no previous convictions, and of good character, accused of such offences.

John Woodward, defending, said his client had been placed under great pressure at work, and had been forced to take responsiblity for both financial and human resources matter, at the time of the offences.

"She is remorseful and very sorry for what has happened and very much wishes that she could turn the clock back," added Mr Woodward.

The court heard that more than £10,000 of the missing money had been repaid by the defendant and her partner, Andrew Barclay, had offered to repay the remainder of the outstanding funds.