A WOMAN who fleeced her elderly aunt out of £122,000 has been branded ‘despicable and wicked’ as she was jailed for two years.

Karen Sanders spent four years draining the cash from the pensioner’s bank accounts to fund her lavish lifestyle.

To cover her tracks, she created a number of forged bank statements to convince her frail aunt that her finances were in good health.

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.

Judge Recorder Taryn Turner said: “I will say from the outset of the most despicable treachery and wickedness and will send a chill to the heart of many who are encouraged to entrust the running of their financial affairs to their friends, family or supporters, as they themselves face the decline in health and mobility as they grow older.”

Teesside Crown Court heard how Sanders emptied more than £80,000 from the pensioner’s accounts as well as securing loans in her aunt’s name bringing the total deception to £122,000.

The judge added: “This was a sinister, callous and wicked deceit because behind your aunt’s back, over a period of four years, you systematically abused the trust and faith your aunt put in you in order to clean out her bank accounts.

“Taking something in excess of £122,000 but worse still were the steps you took to cover the tracks of your dishonesty. You used a computer to manufacture false bank statements that you could then show to your aunt to convince her that her finances were in a healthy state - when plainly they were not.”

The 63-year-old former NHS worker had pleaded guilty to three charges, including fraud by abuse of position, fraud by false representation and making articles for use in fraud.

The court had heard how the defendant had initially borrowed some of her aunt’s money when she was suffering financial difficulties but failed to repay any of the cash, instead spending it on holidays and designer goods.

The judge praised the victim’s bank for reimbursing all of the money that had been drained from the victim’s accounts.

Sanders, formerly of St Johns Garth, Thirsk, was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order.