A MOTHER and daughter who stole £20,000 from an elderly resident at the care home where they worked have been jailed.

Susan Stewart, 49, and Carly Douglas, 28, deceived a vulnerable 94-year-old woman at Sycamore Lodge in Sunderland.

Stewart was employed as general manager while her daughter, Douglas, worked as a part-time care assistant.

Between June and July 2016, the pensioner had £18,000 stolen from her account via online transfer and almost £3,000 withdrawn at various ATMs.

Stewart, of Hemming Street, and Douglas, of Offerton Street, both Sunderland, admitted their offences at Newcastle Crown Court in August and were jailed on Friday.

Stewart was given 27 months prison after she admitted theft and transferring criminal property.

Douglas was jailed for 30 months after pleading guilty to theft, transferring criminal property and fraud by false representation.

Detective Constable Terry Robertson, of Northumbria Police, said: “They abused the trust of an elderly female in their care and saw an opportunity to use the victim’s confused state for their own selfish gain.

“They then attempted to cover up their crimes until the last minute, only admitting their guilt at the eleventh hour when the weight of evidence was overwhelming.

“Let this be a message to anybody who looks to prey on the most vulnerable in our society. You will be pursued.”