Woman jailed for stealing £13k from vulnerable pensioner

A woman who stole thousands of pounds from a vulnerable pensioner has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Rebecca Collier, 44, took money from Rodney Bower over a period of 14 months while he was living at her West Cumbria home.

Collier had invited Mr Bower, who is aged in his 70s, to live with her after he was discharged from hospital.

But Carlisle Crown Court heard she then repeatedly plundered his bank account, stealing almost £13,000 in total.

After making one trip with him to withdraw money, Collier took him back home and locked him in while she went on a spending spree.

Collier, of Fleswick Avenue, Whitehaven, denied six charges of theft. But after a trial at the crown court, a jury convicted her of three offences.

Today Collier was sentenced by Judge Peter Davies. The judge said she had "systematically" stolen her victim's money - none of which has been recovered.