A cleaner who stole her friend's engagement ring and fraudulently used bank cards belonging to her clients has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

Ashley Wale, 44, from West Brabourne in Ashford, stole from numerous victims who had trusted her to clean their properties between August and November 2017.

She pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and nine counts of fraud and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court last Friday.

Wale was initially employed as a cleaner in July 2017 by one of the victim's, who then recommended Wale to two of her friends.

The court heard that within a month, Wale was trusted to house sit and a fraudulent transaction was carried out on one of the victim’s bank cards during this time.

A month later Wale again carried out another fraudulent transaction but claimed it was a mistake.

In October 2017, the card, belonging to the same victims, was used to carry out fraudulent transactions at a number of cash machines across New Romney, Greatstone and Hythe.

"This offender was expected to provide a professional service to her victims, who trusted her to work in their homes." - PC Selina James

The combined total of all the transactions was almost £1,000, Wale was then told her services were no longer needed.

One victim noticed that a gold ring was missing and immediately informed their friends, with one noticing a wedding band had been taken from their property.

The court also heard that in September 2017 Wale house sat for a friend, who went on to notice her engagement ring had been stolen.

Wale was also found guilty of stealing a ring from another associate. This ring was sold to a jeweller and subsequently melted down.

Police Constable Selina James, the investigating officer for this case, said: "This offender was expected to provide a professional service to her victims, who trusted her to work in their homes. She willingly chose to betray this trust for her own profit.

"The sentence handed down by the judge reflects the serious nature of this offending and I hope Wale uses her time in custody to change her behaviour."