A CARER who stole more than £800 from an elderly woman has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Kath Pittfield, aged 47, plundered cash from her victim’s account when she was supposed to be doing her shopping, Bolton Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Her crime was revealed when the victim’s son, who has power of attorney of his mother’s accounts, noticed a number of suspicious withdrawals of cash and discovered £808 was missing.

Katie Beattie, prosecuting, said Mr Mehers, the son of victim Sarah McDougall Mehers, noticed there had been a withdrawal of £250 from his 87-year-old mother’s account at Asda in Farnworth on November 7 last year.

He also noticed other withdrawals.

His mother said she had no reason to withdraw such large amounts of money, but mentioned that a woman called Kath, who used to work for a care agency, had been helping her with shopping, the court was told.

Pittfield had stopped working for the company but continued to see Mrs McDougall Mehers and did shopping for her between November 7 and 14.

When interviewed by police, Pittfield, of Auberson Road, Great Lever, confessed when she was shown receipts and told CCTV had been recovered.

Deborah Winstanley, defending, said Pittfield was disgusted with herself and said the crimes were an “act of desperation”. Pittfield, who had no previous convictions, admitted fraud by abuse of position.

Chairman of the bench Mr Moran, sentencing, said: “It was a despicable offence.”

Pittfield was given a six-week jail sentence, suspended for a year, and was ordered to repay all the money.