A Wirral care worker betrayed the trust of an elderly woman and stole more than £1,400 from her, a court heard today.

The vulnerable housebound 84-year-old had trusted Lorna Pope so much that she would give her bank card and pin number to withdraw cash for her and also buy items for her.

But unknown to her over a three month period Pope used the card to withdraw cash for herself and also buy items for her own use, said Robert Dudley, prosecuting.

After a relative of the victim, who lives in Wallasey, became suspicious the bank and later the police became involved and 50-year-old Pope was arrested.

Sentencing her to nine months imprisonment suspended for 18 months Judge Elizabeth Nicholls at Liverpool Crown Court described it as “a despicable offence involving a high level of trust.”

She said that Pope had been very good at her job and was well liked by her clients and the victim had described her “as a lovely person” with whom she had had a special relationship but Pope had abused her trust.

The judge pointed out that Pope denied the offence when interviewed and it was only on the day of her trial that she finally pleaded guilty though when later interviewed by a probation officer she tried to pretend she had only stolen £50.

She ordered her to pay £1,450 compensation to the bank, who have already reimbursed the victim, plus £100 victim surcharge, placed her under supervision for 18 months and ordered her to carry out 80 hours unpaid work.

Pope, of Gorsedale Road, Wallasey, had pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to theft between June and September 2014.

Ben Jones, defending, said that Pope realised that she deserved to be punished.

She had worked as a carer for 15 years and has no previous convictions.