A 61-year-old carer has been jailed for stealing thousands of pounds from an elderly woman who was in her care.

Between November 2016 and February 2017 Susan Kettley, of Ashley Court, Telford, Shropshire, stole more than £17,000 from a vulnerable woman in her 70s, who she was meant to be caring for at her home in Beaconsfield.

Kettley also applied for a £10,000 loan and credit cards in the victim's name, and paid for her car insurance with the victim's money.

She was arrested and charged with one count of theft and four counts of fraud by false representation on August 4 this year, and pleaded guilty to all charges against her at Amersham Crown Court on September 25, police said today.

She was sentenced to 20 months behind bars.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Lynda Stearman of Force CID, said: “Kettley was in a position of trust as the carer for a vulnerable victim. She abused this position of trust.

“Kettley started working for the victim in October 2016. The agreement was that Kettley would live at victim's home in Beaconsfield where she would look after the victim, carrying out tasks such as cooking and cleaning.

"The defendant stole £17,109.55 from the victim, and obtained a £10,000 loan and also attempted to obtain a credit card in the victim's name, but thankfully the credit card application was declined by the bank because of an error with the victim's date of birth.

“However, Kettley did successfully apply for another credit card in the name of the victim and paid for her car insurance with the victim's money.

“I hope this investigation serves as a reminder to anyone who is planning to defraud another, especially a vulnerable victim, that you will be caught and jailed.”