The sister of an autistic victim of fraud says it is disgraceful the woman responsible is out of prison.

Colleen Jordan discovered Ruth Bray, who fleeced her sister and another vulnerable adult out of almost £14,000, was let out of jail early on a tagging scheme.

Bray, 49, of Sunnymead Avenue, Gillingham, was jailed for nine months in February, after admitting stealing from the accounts of two residents of the Kent Autistic Trust (KAT) between August 2008 and May 2011.

At the time Ms Jordan, 53,who lives in Rainham, said: “At least she has been made an example of.

"She stole from very vulnerable people and that’s a low, cruel and callous act. This woman is vile.”

However, Ms Jordan was outraged to learn Bray had now been released on the tagging curfew system after serving about two months of her sentence.

It is not clear exactly what date Bray was released but she updated her Facebook profile picture on April 27, and has enjoyed several games of Candy Crush Saga on the site since then.

But Ms Jordan said: “This is disgraceful and makes a mockery of the justice system.

"It is so wrong that someone can steal thousands from vulnerable people and receive such a lenient sentence. She has not even completed half of her sentence, it’s a complete joke.

“It just shows people that crime does indeed pay. You can steal more than £13,000 and go to prison for less than three months. I am absolutely furious that this vile creature is free to walk the streets.”

Bray had been an independent living manager for KAT and cared for people who were not in a position to handle their affairs.

Staff noticed withdrawals from cash machines which were not recorded appropriately.

A total of £11,031 was taken from one account in 141 withdrawals and £2,783 from the other account in 39 withdrawals.

The Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme, as it is officially called, is for low-risk prisoners.

People in prison serving a sentence may be granted HDC if they are serving a sentence of more than three months and less than four years and have served a quarter of their sentence.

They must have already served a minimum of 28 days in custody before they are considered.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman added: “Home Detention Curfew provides a crucial opportunity for low risk offenders to be resettled back into the community whilst also subject to a strict set of licence conditions.

“If an offender breaches their licence conditions they can be recalled to prison.”

---

Stories you might have missed

Crash victim's shock over dad's eviction notice

Cruise disaster survivors sue Costa Concordia firm

Pair locked up for forcing man to raid stores

Cathedral celebrates bumper £12m grant

---