A CARE worker was caught red-handed stealing cash from a vulnerable Settle woman the day after the victim's concerned daughter fitted the equipment.

A judge heard today how Kate Rawnsley had the equipment put into her 81-year-old mother's home last July and then left an envelope containing £25 in a basket on a table.

The envelope was endorsed:"Mum...some money for you in case you need it."

But the next day the CCTV captured one of her mum's regular care workers Linda Slater removing the cash from the envelope and putting it in her bra.

Slater, 53, of Shuttleworth Street, Earby, was arrested after the police had been alerted and during a search of her home they found various items of bank documentation relating to another elderly woman who she was supposed to looking after.

The 70-year-old complainant, who also lived in Settle, was said to have had "very complex" health problems and an investigation into her finances revealed that Slater had withdrawn just over £18,000 from her account over a eight-month period between December 2015 and August last year.

In a victim impact statement summarised by Judge Colin Burn the 70-year-old complainant described how she now found it difficult to trust new carers and felt her trust had been betrayed by Slater.

Prosecutor Emma Downing said when Slater was questioned by police she claimed to be living a "hand to mouth" existence, but further inquiries revealed she had recently been on a foreign holiday, she was paying for several mobile phone contracts and had saved up £2,500 in a Christmas catalogue fund.

Barrister Andrew Dallas, for Slater, submitted that although it couldn't be said exactly where the money had been spent it was not a case involving "a champagne lifestyle".

He said Slater was extremely sorry for what she had done and was "absolutely terrified" of being sent to prison.

Mr Dallas explained that an immediate jail term would result in Slater losing her home and she would not be available to help her own elderly mother who was due to undergo an operation on her back later this month.

He submitted that Slater was someone who had not had an easy life and she was now an unemployed woman who was extremely remorseful and in poor health herself.

Slater pleaded guilty to charges of theft and fraud by abuse of position and Judge Colin Burn decided that her two-year jail sentence for the offences could be suspended for 24 months.

Judge Burn told Slater she had been caught "red-handed" taking the cash from envelope and the offending against the second complainant may have continued but for her arrest.

As part of the sentence Slater will have to do the maximum 300 hours of unpaid work for the community and comply with a 15-day activity requirement.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Slater will also face a further court hearing in August under the Proceeds of Crime Act in an effort to get back some of the money she stole from the complainants.