A carer who stole cash from a 98-year-old Canterbury woman she was looking after has been given a suspended prison sentence

Jean Bradley-Denton, 54, of Arkley Road, Herne Bay, had previously been found guilty of stealing the money from Nora Reed at her St Radigund’s Street sheltered housing home.

On Friday, Bradley Denton appeared at Canterbury Crown Court again to be sentenced and was given a four month suspended jail term and ordered to pay £30 compensation and £750 costs.

The court had previously heard that the pensioners became suspicious that her money was going missing after spotting the carer going through her cupboards and drawers.

She told her daughter and they set a trap by leaving £30 in the pensioner's purse one evening. The following day the money was missing and Bradley-Denotn was arrested and later charged with theft.

Bradley-Denton had been employed by a care agency and was suspended when the allegation came to light in January 2010.

After the sentencing Police Det Insp Tracey Anstis said: “This carer was in a position of trust and it is despicable that she chose to prey on this elderly woman whose anguish at the offence in her home was then compounded by the fact that she had to attend court to give evidence when Bradley-Denton tried to argue her innocence.”