A carer who stole thousands from an elderly woman has been made to pay back more than £14,000.

Anna Bavenhielm was ordered to return £14,300 as compensation to the 89-year-old in a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court.

Before the 62-year-old appeared in the dock, police officers had managed to recover more than £7,000.

Bavenhielm, of no fixed address, had been working as a live-in carer and between April and November 2017.

She made 66 separate withdrawals at cash machines with the victim’s bank cards, stealing a total of £21,646.

She was arrested in October and later pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 7 December to 14 months in prison.

DI Annie Clayton, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This woman’s actions were simply deplorable and caused considerable upset to the victim and her family.

"Following the sentence, financial investigators identified a quantity of cash held in one of Bavenhielm’s bank account, and she now has 42 days to pay back the money or she will serve a further eight months in prison.

"My message is clear. Crime shouldn’t pay and we will use the legislation that is available to seize any cash or property that we can prove has been obtained through criminal behaviour."

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