A DISGRACED carer who stole an old lady's purse has been jailed for two years for what a judge described as a 'despicable' offence.

Toni Page was said to have targeted the 90-yer-old victim being aware of her vulnerability because she had worked for the agency caring for her.

Page, of Davenport Avenue, Gillingham, appeared for sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court having admitted deception and burglary.

Darren Weir, prosecuting, said in October 2003, Page applied for a job with Tender Loving Carers but omitted to disclose her previous convictions on the application form. When her employers later made a security check, they came to light and she was dismissed.

After her arrest, she told police she said if she had not lied, she would not have got the job. She earned between £400 and £800 a week depending on the hours she worked.

In June she knocked on the door of Irene Mann's in Westmeads Road, Whitstable and asked to use the toilet as the health centre was closed.

She used Mrs Mann's name and having used the toilet met the old lady in the kitchen. Page enquired about her health and was given a drink of water then led to the front door.

She darted back into the kitchen for a few seconds then left. When she returned to her kitchen, Mrs Mann discovered her purse containing about £50 had gone.

Deborah Charles, for Page, said the court was faced with a stark choice between returning her to prison or giving her a chance to address her drug problem.

She maintained she had been to Mrs Mann's home before and is remorseful. "She had relapsed back into drug use and told police she would like to write to the victim to apologise.”

Jailing Page, Judge Michael O'Sullivan said when filling in forms, it was absolutely essential there was honesty.

“The burglary was a despicable offence and it is clear you targeted her using information about her vulnerability that you acquired,” he said.