A CLEANER who stole thousands of pounds from an elderly couple has been labelled ‘disgraceful’ by the victims’ daughter.

Denise Hodgkinson, 42, was sent to prison for 12 months for stealing £6,000 from Harold and Doris Firman’s bank account.

Hodgkinson had been cleaning for the couple, who were both wheelchair bound, at their home in Fairweather Court, Padiham.

Preston Crown Court heard how the defendent, of Windermere Road, Padiham, stole the money from the Firman’s account over a four year period from March 2005.

After gaining their trust, she took their cash card and withdrew money a number of times.

Hodgkinson was caught after the Firmans, who were both in their 80s, moved into Hilton Residential Home.

She asked a worker there for their cash card, which raised suspicions and the police were called.

Before the hearing she plead-ed guilty to stealing £6,000, but police believe it could have been much more.

Judge Robert Brown said: “This is an offence which can only truly be described as despicable. There was no justification whatsoever.

“Time after time you dis-abused that friendship to the extent that when they realised what had happened, both of them felt like giving up.”

Charlotte Holland, defending, said her client was a family woman and was having difficulty coming to terms with what she had done.

The couple’s daughter Charmaine Chamley said after the case: “What Denise Hodgkinson did was disgraceful.

"My father was frail and my mum so trusting. They thought Denise was a real friend and they were betrayed in the most awful way.

"Sadly my dad has passed away at Christmas but my mum is still upset by the whole thing.

“I am pleased that she is now behind bars for her crime.”