A WOMAN who fleeced her frail, elderly aunt out of more than £100,00 has been warned she is facing custody after leaving the vulnerable pensioner virtually penniless.

Karen Sanders emptied the bank accounts of the victim, who is in her 80s, over a four year period after she was made power of attorney over her aunt's financial affairs.

The 63-year-old is accused of using the money to fund her lavish lifestyle, including buying designer clothes, watches and handbags, as she relentlessly drained her aunt of all of her financial assets.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Sanders would do the pensioner's shopping whilst also dipping into the victim's savings for herself.

Ian West, prosecuting, said the defendant was 'more than likely' to be the soul beneficiary of her aunt's estate when she died.

He said: "The defendant, in order to cover her tracks, used a computer to manufacture false bank statements which she would show to her aunt to convince her that her accounts were in a healthy state.

"Whereas when the fraud was discovered in 2019 they had been pretty much stripped bare.

"The defendant, it seems, spent the money on the high life style."

Police seized dozens of expensive designer handbags, shoes, jewellery and sunglasses when her house was searched.

Mr West said the victim described Sanders as her 'one and only niece' and she has 'betrayed me in the most dreadful manner'.

The court heard how the victim was left £2,000 overdrawn when Sanders' offending came to light – leaving the pensioner out of pocket by £122,000.

Mr West said the stolen money was replaced by the victim's bank but the impact of the deception had had a traumatic affect on the pensioner.

Sanders, formerly of St Johns Garth, Thirsk, pleaded guilty to three charges, including fraud by abuse of position, fraud by false representation and making articles for use in fraud.

Kelleigh Lodge, in mitigation, said her client had initially borrowed some of the money to help her out when she hit financial difficulties but accepts she never paid the money back.

She said: "She did plead guilty at the lower court and when interview by police she made admissions and gave a detailed account of her offending."

Sanders will be sentenced this morning.