Cornwall carer Debra Adams stole £100K from pensioner
A female carer who stole more than £100,000 from a bedridden pensioner has been jailed for five years.
Truro Crown Court heard that Debra Adams took the money from the 83-year-old woman's account and used it to buy luxuries for her family.
The victim had trusted Adams with her bank account details and debit card, allowing her to make out cheques and withdraw money from cash machines.
Adams, 46, of St Columb, admitted 14 counts of theft and fraud.
Prosecutor Iain White said Adams had used the money to indulge herself and her husband in exotic holidays and her passion for horses, her children and grandchildren.
The court heard the pensioner had originally had an inheritance of £180,000 from her husband.
Judge Paul Darlow said before jailing Adams for five years and two months: "This is as serious a breach of trust as it has ever been my misfortune to come across.
"It would be difficult to think of a more truly vulnerable victim."
The court heard Adams had been under the care of the mental health service before her arrest and had been hospitalised in March last year after taking an overdose of drugs.