A WOMAN who stole more than £18,000 from her great-aunt while living rent free in the elderly woman's home has been spared a prison sentence.

Stephanie Swinburn siphoned off thousands of pounds over the course of around 15 months while helping to care for her relative.

Last week, a judge said the 29-year-old didn't have to serve an immediate custodial sentence after hearing that her mental health had deteriorated in the time she had spent away from her father.

Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting the case at Bournemouth Crown Court, said Swinburn was provided with bank cards and PIN numbers by the victim and her daughter.

"Odd transfers were discovered by chance in April 2018 by the victim's daughter when she checked the online banking," Mr Ellacott said.

"She spoke to the defendant and further checks were made. It transpired that over a period between January 1 2017 and April 7 2018, there were a number of unaccounted-for cash withdrawals."

Swinburn, who lives in Yarrells Lane, Poole, had also applied for an overdraft to her great-aunt's account, and then applied for an extension to that overdraft. She had paid some of the cash directly from the victim's Natwest account into her own Paypal.

The total loss to the victim was some £18,600.

"During the course of a police interview, Swinburn made full admissions to having taken the money," Mr Ellacott said.

As a "snapshot" of the defendant's fraud, Mr Ellacott said Swinburn took £770 in seven withdrawals made in just three days.

Swinburn, who admitted four counts of fraud, said she had become addicted to crack cocaine.

Mark Florida-James, mitigating, called the defendant's crimes "despicable" but said Swinburn was ill at the time.

Judge Jonathan Fuller QC replied: "She did not take medication when she should have done.

"Her father was concerned about her being 'dishevelled'."

Mr Florida-James said: "It's a rather tragic situation.

"Someone who ought to take medication is convinced they don't need it."

The defendant's father is keen to make "full reparations" to the victims, he added.

Judge Fuller told Swinburn she should be "ashamed" of herself. However, he accepted the defendant, who has no previous convictions, was suffering with a mental illness similar to psychosis. Had she been taking her medicine, the offences may not have been committed, he said.

He sentenced the defendant to an 18-month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.