A CARE worker who preyed on two vulnerable pensioners and stole nearly £22,000 from their bank accounts has been jailed for a total of nine months.

Lisa Garrington, 22, who took the cash to feed her addiction to fruit machines, was said to have breached the trust of the elderly women who suffered from memory loss and illness.

Yesterday, a judge at Teesside Crown Court rejected defence pleas that she receive a suspended jail sentence.

Jailing her, Judge Peter Fox described the thefts as "nasty, mean offences" and said it would send out the wrong message if she escaped custody.

Garrington, 22, of Thirlmere Street, Hartlepool, who has since lost her job with care agency Janard in the town, admitted two counts of theft against 85-year-old Phylis Ratcliffe and 84-year-old Doris Turnbull at an earlier magistrates' court hearing. She also asked for a further offence of theft, involving £50 taken from Irene Foreman, to be taken into account.

Prosecuting, Ian Skelt said a total of £13,050 had been taken from Mrs Ratcliffe and £8,860 from Mrs Turnbull in the period between July last year and January.

When Garrington was arrested, she admitted the thefts and said that, as well as her gambling addiction, she needed the money as Christmas was drawing close.

Christine Egerton, for Garrington, said she was extremely sorry for the thefts and was distraught at the grief caused.

Garrington, who is expecting a baby in November, had stopped gambling and was willing to pay the money back.

A compensation hearing in December will decide how much she will pay.