A heartless carer stole precious jewellery from elderly dementia sufferers as they slept before selling the items to pawnbrokers.

Sita Tamang targeted the vulnerable residents in their rooms while working night shifts at a specialist care home in Canterbury.

The 32-year-old from Nepal swiped rings, a necklace and a pendant from three women over the course of about a month, later claiming she had been suffering a “mental breakdown”.

She now faces a potential spell behind bars after magistrates decided she should be sentenced by a crown court judge.

Folkestone magistrates were told her stealing spree started in February 2022, when she took a ring from 92-year-old June Cornish.

Just days later she stole another ring, this time from 80-year-old Ulla-Britt Woodcock, who was asleep at the time of the theft.

The following month she targeted Mrs Cornish again, stealing a necklace and pendant, and on the same night also swiped a ring from 89-year-old Margery Hyde.

Within days she was rumbled and sacked from her role as a night carer on March 8, with the thefts reported to police.

Tamang, of Buffs Road, Canterbury, was later arrested and charged with four counts of theft from dwelling.

She pleaded guilty to all the offences when she appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Jeremy King, prosecuting, told the court all three victims had dementia and could not give victim impact statements as a result.

He added: “The three ladies were in a care home in Canterbury which is for elderly residents, and the home specialises in dementia care.

“[Tamang] was employed as a night carer but was dismissed on March 8 last year following these incidents.

“She had lone access to their rooms when she was working when it was discovered their personal items were stolen from their property.”

When managers at the home were told of the thefts it was discovered the stolen items had been sold at a pawnbrokers in Canterbury.

Mr King added: “All the jewellery was recovered from the pawnbrokers, so the pawn shop has suffered a loss, as they paid [Tamang].

“She had no convictions or cautions recorded, but the victims couldn't give victim impact statements and their families didn’t either.”

Hugh Roberts, defending, told the bench Tamang - who had worked at the home since 2017 - had led an unblemished life until last year.

“We were in a Covid lockdown and life was difficult at the time; she was suffering from a mental breakdown,” he explained.

“She and her husband were hoping to buy a house but couldn’t get a loan from the bank.

“The couple also had huge stress as they wanted to have a baby, but that had been unsuccessful.

“They even went back to their own country to make prayers.

“This lady had also pawned all her own jewellery and her husband’s jewellery, and then came the thefts. She’s pleaded guilty to them and there is no loss to the individuals.

“They now have a seven-month-old child who was born on November 30 last year. She’s here on indefinite leave to stay and has been since November 2016.”

Magistrates decided to send the case to Canterbury Crown Court for sentencing, with probation officers told to consider all options when preparing reports for a judge.

Chairman of the bench Stephen Rogers told Tamang: “It was a high degree of trust you broke.”

Tamang was bailed to reappear for her sentencing on a date yet to be set.