The jailing of a fraudulent former Wycombe District Councillor sends a strong message to other criminals, detectives have said.

Jeanette Mann of Hughenden Road, High Wycombe, was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court last Thursday after a jury heard she stole more than £20,000 from two elderly victims.

The 67-year-old, who lost her seat in the Disraeli ward in 2011, has now started serving a 15-month sentence after she was found guilty of two counts of fraud by false representation, one count of theft in a dwelling, and one count of possession of articles for use in fraud.

Investigating officer PC Merlyn Evans said: “The offender in this case took advantage of a very vulnerable woman and inflicted severe monetary loss on her.

“This left the victim overdrawn on her accounts and unable to pay her vital utility bills.

“I believe the sentence given to Mann sends a strong message that crimes of this nature will not be tolerated and Thames Valley Police will investigate fully to bring offenders to justice.”

Police confirmed that Mann befriended one of her victims, a woman aged in her eighties, between June 2012 to November 2012 and took debit and credit cards from her home.

She then assumed control of the victim’s finances having gained the PIN and, with no authority, withdrew £26,350 from both accounts over a six month period, clearing the victim’s bank accounts of funds.

Mann was also found in possession of international money transfer forms in other names with signatures which had been forged.

She has originally been charged with the offences on July 30, 2013.