A TRUSTED carer was yesterday jailed for a year for stealing the savings of a blind woman she looked after twice a week.

Mother-of-two Julie Wilkinson regularly helped herself to sums of £200 from the savings account into which the 76-year-old victim paid her late husband's mining pension.

Durham Crown Court heard that in 17 months, Wilkinson almost emptied the account, stealing £5,090.

Wilkinson was given the account's card and pin number by the victim to obtain statements, but was never asked to withdraw money.

Lesley Kirkup, prosecuting, said the thefts came to light in April, when the victim obtained a statement and was shocked to find only £190 remained.

The court heard that Wilkinson tried to stop her alerting police.

When the woman did, Wilkinson then asked her to call them back and say it was a mistake.

Ms Kirkup said the thefts had troubled the victim, who has since been off her food and has difficulty sleeping.

She told police she did not care about the money "as long as she goes to prison".

Peter Schofield, in mitigation, said Wilkinson used the money to pay off about £5,000 in household debts.

He said: "She succumbed to temptation. There was no high living, but her finances are now back on an even keel."

The court heard her father has taken out a loan to repay some of the money, but none has been paid to the victim yet.

Wilkinson, of Malvern Crescent, Seaham, County Dur-ham, of previous good character, admitted a charge of theft at a previous hearing.

Jailing her, Recorder Andrew Stubbs said: "This was a persistent and premeditated theft from a vulnerable lady who treated you like a daughter and trusted you with her life savings. This can only merit a sentence of custody.

"I would like to make a compensation order, but you have no means.

"I obviously note your family has made an offer of repayment. Morally, they may feel they should still do that, but I have no power to enforce it.