'Despicable' carer jailed

A carer who stole nearly £40,000 from an elderly Hertfordshire couple she was supposed be looking after has been jailed.

Bridget Rudolph-Mills, 49, took money from the bank accounts of 91-year-old Donald Stephenson and his wife Mary, 87.

Maurice Aston, prosecuting, said in total she took £37,800 from the Stephensons.

Rudolph-Mills, who lived with the couple in Overstone Road, Harpenden, even took money from Mrs Stephenson's account three weeks after her death last year.

Travel and theatre

"This case involved a substantial breach of trust," said Mr Aston.

He said she used the money on travel, theatre, trips and to clear debts.

Rudolph-Mills appeared at St Albans Crown Court for sentence having earlier pleaded guilty to 15 deception charges.

She also asked for 154 offences to be taken into consideration.

'Thoroughly dishonest'

Defence barrister Kaja Rieff-Musgrove asked for credit for her guilty pleas.

She said at the time of the deceptions Rudolph-Mills' husband was not working as he studied for a PhD, living away from home and she was "left isolated".

Jailing her for three years and three months, Judge Joseph Gosschalk told her: "You are a thoroughly dishonest person."

He said the victims were two vulnerable people and described her offences as "mean and despicable".