A father has been sent to prison after stealing £30,000 and a Labrador from his daughter.

Christopher Hughes, 60, pocketed nearly £30,000 from a trust fund set up to help Holly, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

The daughter fled the family home in disgust after discovering that her money had been stolen.

Then in a sick twist, Hughes, of Neal Road, West Kingsdown refused to hand back her pet dog, Elsa, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Before sentencing, the judge paused to find out if a jail sentence would have a negative impact on Holly's welfare.

Prosecutor John Connor, after discussing it with the victim, then told Recorder Andrew Walker QC it wouldn't and the judge promptly jailed Hughes for 18 months.

The court heard that Hughes was now in the process of returning the missing cash after releasing equity from his home and it should be completed within a month.

Simon Smith, defending, said Hughes - who describes himself as a functioning alcoholic - had taken the money at the start to pay a mortgage payment.

"He is deeply ashamed of what he did and is sorry for what he did. He made admissions to the police from the outset."

He said Holly had written to him about his drinking problem adding: "I am worried that you will die like mum did".

The kind-hearted daughter finished the letter: "I am begging you to get help."

Mr Smith urged the judge to defer sentence to allow Hughes to pay back the money. The dog was returned after a previous court hearing.

But the judge told Hughes: "I am told that you are deeply ashamed and sorry about this. I accept that you feel shame but I am less convinced to the degree you feel remorse about the impact on Holly.

"This is so serious that only a prison sentence can be justified."

The court heard that he used his daughter's money, which had been in a bank account in her name - but her father had the pin number and card for the account.

In 2017, Hughes secretly took money out and began spending it and by March 2020 the money, £29,000 was " all but gone".

Hughes, who had admitted two theft charges from his own daughter, had been her registered carer since she was five years old.

The money had been inherited from an uncle and was " a gross breach of trust", the judge told him.

"She placed trust in you as her father and carer. She was a woman with a physical disability.

"When she found out what you had done, she left the house in such a hurry that she did not take her dog with her. The dog had been bought with part of that inheritance You then refused to give back the dog on several occasions.

"I am now told the dog is now back with her and she is caring for her, " he added.

Hughes told police he had initially "borrowed sums of money" to pay for the mortgage - but then used some of it "on himself", the judge added.

He claimed he had refused to hand over the pet dog because he didn't believe she could look after the animal because of her illness.

Holly, who watched the proceedings from the public gallery, told the judge in a victim impact statement that she was "devastated and traumatised" by the thieving and it had affected her mental health.

She said that unless the money is paid back she is unable to contemplate buying any sort of property.

The judge ordered an investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.