A carer who stole more than £30,000 from an elderly lady she was looking after to fund her own lavish lifestyle has been jailed for three years.

Monika Watson, of Front Street in Cobham, assisted a then-85-year-old woman with day-to-day tasks and errands and used debit and credit cards without the woman’s knowledge or permission.

She used the money from these cards, as well as two credit cards she set up without permission, to buy herself lunches, clothes, tennis sessions and holidays in Portugal and in the UK.

The total she stole was £31,609.24.

Watson, 46, was arrested in June 2016 after the victim’s family noticed unusual transactions from their mother’s account and after a lengthy investigation she was charged with seven counts of fraud.

A statement from the family read: “We are so relieved that we were able to bring this case to court and she has been found guilty. It’s been such a horrible time for all our family and our mother has been really rocked by this awful experience. She will turn 88 this month and it’s something she shouldn’t have to go through at her time of life. She keeps asking 'how could I have been so foolish to believe her?'

“This so-called carer completely abused the friendship with our mother and took advantage of her. We thought she was okay but it’s shocking when it happens to you and it’s a lesson we have had to learn.

“There are lots of kind people out there but what people don’t realise is that there are a few who will take advantage of vulnerable people. You need to be vigilant. Monika Watson wanted what she didn’t have and now she’s paid the price.”

Watson was found guilty on October 4 and remained in custody until her sentencing today (October 6) at Kingston Crown Court.

This will be the second time she has faced prison, having previously been jailed for theft.

Detective superintendent Ben Kirby who led the investigation said: “This was a calculated and cold crime committed with no sense of remorse, and done to fund a lifestyle Ms Watson thought she deserved though did not have the income to lead. She was in a position of trust and took advantage of an elderly woman. When we charged Watson she fully denied all seven counts which meant that the victim had to suffer the ordeal of giving live evidence in court.

“Watson is a callous individual who continues to lie and deceive and appears to have no intention of changing her ways. In 2010 she spent eight months in prison for a similar offence of theft.

“I hope this case serves as a warning to others that if you think it’s easy to prey on the elderly and vulnerable you will be caught and sentenced accordingly.”