A DUDLEY pensioner lost her life-savings to a fraudster who cynically syphoned off the cash while pretending to help her victim.

Rebecca Thompson pocketed £36,856 from 75-year-old widow Beryl Ashfield after gaining her trust.

Thompson was married to the widow's nephew and she had started out assisting her but then spent the money on jewellery, flowers and settling personal bills.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Challinor told Thompson she had "deliberately and cynically drained" the account and was guilty of a "serious breach of trust."

As he jailed Thompson for 20 months the judge added: "She lost her husband some years ago and she never really recovered from the loss."

Mrs Ashfield, he said, was vulnerable and trusting" and she had then been" targeted and betrayed" by Thompson.

The 37-year-old was finally rumbled when Mrs Ashfield's granddaughter felt she was being exploited and she complained she had been unable to check on her finances.

It was then discovered that Thompson had not paid over money she had been given to settle the widow’s household bills and that she had also persuaded her to open another bank account.

Thompson had then pretended to be Mrs Ashfield in telephone calls and she had forged the widow's signature, the court was told.

Thompson, of Stubby Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, admitted three charges of fraud and the judge ruled only immediate custody was appropriate for the crimes.

Alison Scott-Jones, for Thompson, said her client had fallen into temptation. She had been given money to settle bills and she became "tempted to help herself" to the cash.

Miss Scott-Jones said: "She is full of remorse for what she has done” and added she knows she will never be able to repair the damage she has done.

Lee Egan, prosecuting, said Mrs Ashfield had been badly affected by the offending. The money had been left to her by her late husband and now she had to rely on her pension.