A WOMAN from Stourport spent £50,000 belonging to an elderly man with Alzheimer's to gamble and pay off her debts.

Donna Felton, aged 47, of Meadow View, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Worcester Crown Court on January 17 after confessing to the fraud.

PC Pete Meredith, of West Mercia Police, said: "In early January 2019, the son of the victim contacted the police as he had discovered his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, had over £50,000 removed from his bank account.

“An investigation was launched working closely with the victim’s bank and it was established that over the course of several months in early 2018, over £50,000 had systematically been taken from the victim’s account.

“It was clear from the transactions that the victim’s debit card was being used. Further enquiries were made with Pay Pal, hotels, DVLA and online gambling companies who were listed on the account transactions.

“Donna Felton was an associate of the family and text messages were obtained where Felton had contacted the family after she had found the victim in a state of distress in June 2017."

Felton was interviewed by police and made a full confession in March 2019.

She told officers she had found the victim's debit card on the floor of his home address and then used it for gambling and paying off debts.

The man died shortly after Felton was jailed.

PC Meredith added: "Felton’s actions were inexcusable, taking advantage of a poorly and vulnerable elderly man and both West Mercia Police and the family of the victim welcome the sentence and are grateful to the bank who have fully refunded the victim.

"I would also like to extend my sympathies to the family as I have been made aware that the victim died only a few days ago.

"I am sure he too would welcome the court’s decision to punish Felton for her actions.”