A CARE home manager has admitted stealing cash from elderly residents.

Christine Dixon, 51, pleaded guilty to ten charges of theft between May 2002 and July 2003, relating to nine victims living at the St George's home, in Harraton, Washington.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the amounts she stole varied from £2,106 from one old lady to £60 from others.

She also confessed to stealing £312 from Wellburn Care Homes Ltd, which owns the home.

All her victims were in their nineties and some have since died.

Nine charges of false accounting relating to her tampering with the victims' personal allowance sheets were dropped after the guilty pleas were entered yesterday.

Dixon, of West Avenue, Harraton Village, Washington, admitted stealing a total of £4,016 and will be sentenced on August 23.

Judge Beatrice Bolton told her the fact she had been bailed gave no indication to the sentence