She claimed that she became a carer because she got pleasure out of helping others in need.

But Jeanette Thomas preyed on a vulnerable pensioner in her care, taking up to £6,000 of her savings.

Dementia sufferer Margaret Robson was even forced to ask other residents at her Crosland Moor care complex for cash when she was left with no money to eat and was surviving on soup and water.

Today Thomas was handed a community order – a sentence Mrs Robson’s son branded “disgusting”.

Thomas, 51, previously admitted stealing money from Mrs Robson between December and August this year.

At the time Thomas was working as part of Mrs Robson’s care team at Sandy Mount, which offers supported housing for vulnerable people.

Mrs Robson, 88, suffers from vascular dementia meaning that she can recall her childhood but struggles to remember things on a day to day basis and gets confused.

Kirklees magistrates heard that she would withdraw £200 at the start of the week and separate this into envelopes to pay for bills.

But over a period of months the money went missing from her Blackmoorfoot Road flat.

Mrs Robson’s son Mark became concerned when he heard that she wasn’t able to pay for meals.

Vanessa Jones, prosecuting, said: “She was asking other residents to borrow money.

“Some surveillance cameras were fitted which were covert and the serial numbers of the banknotes were noted.

Frail victim: Margaret Robson
Frail victim: Margaret Robson

“The footage was viewed, Thomas was identified and £40 was found in her handbag with the serial numbers noted.

“An envelope with the words ‘My Pension’ which contained £150 had been placed in Thomas’s leggings.”

When Mrs Robson couldn’t find her money she would withdraw more cash – sometimes up to £700 a week.

Thomas admitted that she took money from the pensioner’s bedroom drawers, handbag and cabinets.

Mrs Jones said: “Thomas admitted taking some money from Mrs Robson while she was in the flat.

“She moved her (Mrs Robson’s) glasses to distract her when she took the money and also took money from the envelopes.”

Thomas spent the money on clothing and paying her bills.

Magistrates heard that Mr Robson believed that a total of £6,190 was stolen from his mother which has since been paid back to her by the company which runs Sandy Mount.

Mrs Jones added: “He said that this has caused a great deal of distress to the family.

“They’ve really felt the breach of trust and are angry at the targeting of a vulnerable lady.”

The court heard that Thomas, who had no previous convictions, had worked in the care profession for over 30 years.

Rachel Smith, mitigating, said: “She’s got pleasure from helping people who needed her care. Mrs Thomas is usually a very caring person and a trusted member of society.”

Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Huddersfield
Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Huddersfield

Miss Smith explained that her client had suffered recent bereavements including the loss of her stepmother in a house fire which had impacted upon her thinking.

She said: “She will now no longer be able to work in a care capacity and that in itself is punishment.”

Magistrates sentenced Thomas, of Gilbert Grove in Crosland Moor, to a 24-month community order as a direct alternative to custody including 200 hours of unpaid work.

She must also pay £2,000 in compensation to the care company.

Mr Robson said after the hearing: “I was hoping she would get sent down.

“It’s utterly disgusting and a lot of people have said they were wanting a custodial sentence.

“My mother was getting cleared out and didn’t know why she didn’t have any money.

“She wasn’t eating properly and her weight loss was drastic – she was surviving on soup and water.

“The sad thing is she kept quiet about the whole sordid affair, she knew something was happing but didn’t know what.

“I would ask her what do you mean you’ve got no money and she looked at me with a blank expression and said she didn’t know.

“She was distressed and confused and all her trust had gone out the window.”