A ROSSENDALE nursing home worker has been jailed after she took money being saved by an 85-year-old female resident for her funeral.

Maxine Shaw's victim “rapidly deteriorated” after her lifesavings were taken and died “desperately upset” about what had happened to her, a court heard.

Shaw, 36, of Alder Avenue, Rawtenstall, had admitted four offences of fraud and was jailed for a year by a judge at Preston Crown Court.

The court was told Kathleen Hill had lived at Lumb Valley Residential Home, Burnley Road East, Lumb, when she and was targeted by the defendant who stole a total of £2,400 from her.

Judge Simon Newell said: “She was in a state of considerable distress and spent the last few months of her life desperately upset and deteriorated rapidly after the theft of her savings.”

The judge said she had borrowed money and then took cash from the elderly woman.

It had been money saved for her funeral.

He added: "There can be no sentence other than custody".

The court was told Shaw had a previous criminal record stretching from 1990 to 2007.

Before entering the courtroom, Shaw had been examined by paramedics. Her barrister told the court she had been "experiencing difficulty" at court.

At the end of last week, when her case was due to be heard, she was taken to hospital after collapsing at court.

Martin Hackett, defending, said she had never been to prison in the past.

He said: "The thought of any lengthy custodial term is something which quite frankly terrifies Maxine Shaw.

"She has tried to repay the money she took at the time.

"She regrets all matters which have brought her to the attention of the courts over the last seventeen years."

The court was told she had apparently repaid £1,900.

Mr Hackett added: "She acted on these occasions because she was experiencing financial difficulties. It is only with reflection and with her being asked to attend at court has the very real seriousness of her predicament been brought home."

After the case, charity Help the Aged said that these kind of offences were “common”.

A spokesman said: “This is the most common form of elder abuse.

"Often these cases are v ery difficult to prove and inevitably the victim’s are very vulnerable. ”