A CARER accused of stealing money from an elderly dementia sufferer has told a jury that he lost his "dream job" because he agreed to her pleas for him to go to a cash machine for her.

At Bolton Crown Court Jacob Cartwright said 87-year-old Phylis Ward had been very distressed about not having enough money on her and had insisted he use her bank card to withdraw a total of £900 over three days.

Giving evidence in his own defence, 26-year-old Cartwright said he knew that agreeing to Mrs Ward's requests was against the policy of his employers, the Homecare Support agency, but he felt sorry for her.

"She was very distraught and was begging me, basically, to go to the cash machine for her," he said.

Cartwright was employed as a senior support worker by the firm and would visit widow Mrs Ward's Stevenson Court sheltered flat in Kearsley twice a day.

But he said that on July 7, 2014, after the banks had closed, Mrs Ward wanted money and so he agreed to go to the NatWest cashpoint in Farnworth and show her how to use the machine, standing away from her while she entered her pin number and took her cash.

He added that later that month, on July 29, she again found herself short of cash and insisted he go for it without her as she was waiting for a taxi to take her to her whist evening.

Cartwright told the jury he withdrew £300 and gave it to her, repeating the exercise three days later on August 1, this time making £400 and £100 withdrawals.

On each occasion he admitted he checked Mrs Ward's bank balance, claiming he did it automatically as it was his usual habit, and only got a receipt for the £100 withdrawal.

The receipt was found by Mrs Ward's nephew a few days later and, aware she did not know how to use a cash machine, became suspicious.

Cartwright, of Albert Road, Farnworth, was sacked by his employers and Mrs Ward died in April last year.

Cartwright denies two counts of theft.

The trial continues.