A CALLOUS ‘carer’ who plundered a bedridden pensioner’s savings to fund her £200 a day heroin habit has been jailed for 18 months.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how graduate Caroline Gwinnett, inset, had been caught on camera helping herself to frail Patricia Godden’s funds, stealing from the frail widow even when she was in hospital and following her death.

Prosecutor Thomas Horder said Mrs Godden had been in her 80s and living alone in Bournemouth when Gwinnett targeted her.

He added: “During the last 12 months of Mrs Godden’s life she was described by friends as being bedridden and having great difficulty with her mobility. She struggled with day to day chores and had a carer provided by Social Services.

This defendant was the partner of Mrs Godden’s nephew. She was employed to help with her shopping and some cleaning.”

The court was told how Mrs Godden had voiced fears to her bona fide carer that money was going missing from her bank accounts before she passed away on March 12 last year.

Mr Horder said: “Solicitors administering her estate discovered there was a large sum missing from two accounts; a total loss of £35,780.”

He added that Gwinnett had been filmed making withdrawals from cash machines, adding that money had been taken while Mrs Godden was in hospital and following her death.

During interview Gwinnett, 41, from Whatleigh Close, Poole, denied stealing from Mrs Godden, insisting she had been given permission to withdraw cash.

She later admitted two theft charges spanning a period between October 1, 2011 and March 19, 2012.

In Gwinnett’s defence, the court was told that she “utterly regretted” her actions and her remorse was genuine.

The proceeds of her crimes had been used to fund her £200 a day heroin habit and she was “a vulnerable woman” who needed help to kick her addiction.

Sentencing sobbing Gwinnett, Judge Peter Johnson told her: “For six months you ransacked the accounts of an elderly, bedridden lady who had entrusted you with her pin number.

“You withdrew over £35,000 from two accounts to fund your addiction. The fact that Mrs Godden was admitted to hospital and the fact that she died didn’t stop you.

“This was a sustained and substantial episode of dishonesty.”