A CARER who went on a spending spree using a vulnerable pensioner’s bank card was jailed for eight months.

Ashley Maddison was given the card and its PIN by the 67-year-old dementia sufferer to buy her cigarettes and beer.

Durham Crown Court heard that Maddison ran up a bill of more than £3,600 in less than a month, making cash withdrawals of up to £500, and also buying hundreds of pounds worth of items at stores such as Foot Locker, Disney, Top Shop, Ikea and a computer gaming emporium.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Maddison worked for a private agency which provided two 15-minute care visits to the victim’s home per day, to help tidy up and clean.

Her activities came to light when the victim’s daughter visited her on February 16 and asked where her mother’s bank card was, as it appeared to be missing.

She told her that she had given it to “the carer” with the PIN to go on an errand, so the daughter rang the agency and was told it was completely against the rules for them to shop for clients.

Mr Dryden said the daughter also contacted her mother’s bank and discovered the card had been used frequently in preceding weeks.

Maddison was arrested and admitted using the card four times on a shopping trip to Sunderland the previous day, but on further investigation the full extent of her spending emerged.

When she was told she was caught on cctv camera making the withdrawals at the times indicated she made further admissions.

She told police she had debt problems, although she conceded she had also bought a scooter, fuel for the scooter, cigarettes and cans of energy drink.

Mr Dryden said she also claimed to have made loans to friends who had their own money troubles.

Maddison, 27, of Ramsey Close, Peterlee, admitted fraud by false representation.

Stephen Constsantine, mitigating, said she was of previous good character and had previously had a good work record.

He said the offence had taken place over a relatively short period, but since it became public knowledge she has been “ostracised” and has been living out of the area as she has been shunned by former friends and family.

Jailing her, Judge Christopher Prince said not only was it a gross breach of trust, but a “deliberate draining” of the victim’s savings, pointing out that the spending was not just on necessities.