A daughter systematically stole more than £26,000 from her elderly parents, who were both suffering from dementia, leaving their care home bills unpaid. a court heard.

Susan Thynne, 52, was in charge of bank accounts for her parents, who were both in separate care homes, but withdrew cash over a two year period when she and her husband unexpectedly found themselves out of work, Norwich Crown Court heard,

The cash was discovered missing when Thynne's sister approached her about finances and she confessed that the parents' bank account was empty because she had taken the money.

Hilary O'Keefe, prosecuting, said as well as draining the account it was also discovered that the parents had unpaid care home bills amounting to over £30,000, however a county court order had since been obtained to recover some of the money owed.

The court also heard that Thynne was planning on selling her home so she could repay all the cash.

In an impact statement, Thynne's sister said she felt 'angry and betrayed' by what had happened and described it as being a 'hideous episode' in her life.

Thynne, of Beccles Road, Gorleston, who arrived in the courtroom on a mobility scooter, admitted theft of £26,711 between April 2015 and July 2017 and was jailed for 10 months.

Sentencing her, Judge Anthony Bate said: 'You have pleaded guilty to a sustained series of thefts from the bank accounts of your elderly parents.'

He said that she had breached a 'high degree' of trust which had been placed in her and said: 'These were mean and sustained thefts.'

Jonathan Goodman, for Thynne, said that she and her husband had moved to Norfolk, from Berkshire, to be near her parents and she had been a 'dutiful' daughter.

However he said when Thynne and her husband found themselves unemployed she had taken cash from the parent's bank account, initially intending to pay the cash back, but it got out of hand and 'spiralled.'

He said that she was in the process of selling the family home and wanted to make full repayment.

He said Thynne had health and major mobility problems.