A dishonest carer with a gambling habit who stole war medals, cash and jewellery from elderly clients was caught after police installed a covert camera in the home of one of her victims, a court has heard.
Sonia Maisonave, who was employed by Manorcourt Care, was arrested after she was seen stealing £70 from an envelope containing marked banknotes, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
When police searched a cupboard in a bedroom at her home they discovered a large quantity of jewellery, coins, medals and an iPad, said Gerard Renouf, prosecuting.
Maisonave, 51, of Essex Road, Lowestoft, admitted six offences of theft between September 2011 and June 2016 and was jailed for 20 months.
Sentencing her Judge Rupert Overbury said: 'As a carer for elderly and infirm people you were in a significant position of trust. People relied on you to go into their homes and carry out your job honestly and you didn't.'
He said her victims were suffering from a range of illnesses including, cancer, Alzheimer's and osteoporosis.
The court heard that Maisonave's victims included a 96-year-old woman who had lived alone since her husband, who was a pilot in the Second World War, died.
She only became aware that Maisonave had stolen a pocket watch, RAF medals and cufflinks when she was contacted by police following the defendant's arrest.
Maisonave had also stolen war medals and jewellery from a woman suffering from Alzheimer's and her wheelchair-bound husband and rings, including a wedding ring, from a 94-year-old woman.
She had also stolen an iPad from a man suffering from Parkinson's and a gold-plated commemorative coin belonging to an 88-year-old cancer sufferer.
Mr Renouf said all the property was recovered apart from £70 cash.
Manorcourt Care specialises in looking after people who wish to remain in their own home, with 16 branches located throughout East Anglia and Greater London.
Laura Kenyon for Maisonave said her client had no previous convictions and had a gambling habit.
She said that having stolen property from clients she had kept it in a cupboard because couldn't bring herself to sell the items which she knew were of sentimental value.
Miss Kenyon said Maisonave had £13,000 of debts and realised she was facing a prison sentence.
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