A PENSIONER has spoken of her heartbreak after being fleeced of more than £120,000 by her own niece.

The victim, who is in her 80s, was left penniless after Karen Sanders emptied all of her bank accounts when she was given power of attorney over her aunt's financial affairs.

In an emotional victim impact statement, the pensioner said she couldn't believe her own niece had targeted her savings to fund her lavish lifestyle.

"It's knocked me for six," she said. "How could she sit there and tell me the lies which rolled off her tongue because she said all the beautiful things I would comment on had come from eBay.

"I just believed every word that she said.

"I wasn't too well and I'm certainly not too grand now."

At the time of the statement, he frail pensioner didn't know that her bank would refund all of the lost £122,000.

The widow added: "I just can't believe that she could be so deceitful and dishonest while looking me in the eye.

"I don't know how long I live and I don't know what the future is going to hold and I think that is the worst of all – wondering about the house and its contents because I love it.

"It has just knocked me for six – I can't put it any other way."

Sanders, formerly of Thirsk, will be sentenced this morning after pleading guilty to three charges, including fraud by abuse of position, fraud by false representation and making articles for use in fraud.