A thieving carer stole £300 from an 81-year-old women in a "despicable" deception with her cheque book, York Crown Court heard.

Simon Hickey, prosecuting, said Sara Manson, 22, took a cheque from Ampleforth pensioner Eileen Thompson when caring for her in her home.

Then she used an innocent third party to cash the cheque for £300.

Judge Tom Cracknell told Manson: "This was a despicable offence for which you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

" I am not sure that you are."

He said that the normal sentence would have been a year in jail.

But, because she had chronic mental illness, he put her on probation for 12 months

Judge Cracknell warned her that if she breached the order by not obeying the probation officer, or by re-offending, he would re-sentence her.

"If you are convicted of anything in the next 12 months, particularly for dishonesty, nothing on this planet will stop you going to prison."

The judge was considering imposing a condition that she take psychiatric treatment, but delayed it while the probation service considered the matter.

Manson of Renfrew, Scotland, pleaded guilty to forgery and obtaining a money transfer by deception.

Mr Hickey said Manson had denied the offence in police interviews, even though officers pointed out that fingerprint evidence from the cheque book against her was overwhelming.

He said that Manson's barrister, Jason Pitter, had claimed at an earlier hearing that the third party who cashed the cheque and then gave Manson the money knew it was stolen, but the prosecution did not support this.

A resident living in the neighbourhood took Manson to a railway station a week after she received the last money and "has never seen her since".

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