A woman who befriended an elderly, vulnerable man and then systematically stole his life savings has been jailed for 18 months.

Sandra Rowe was told by a judge that she had shown few signs of remorse for fleecing Roy Crowhurst out of £40,000.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how Rowe, 52, met Mr Crowhurst at the Chequers Centre in the town in 2004 and became his housekeeper.

After a while the victim, now aged 80, added her name to his bank account so she could handle some of his financial affairs.

Edmund Fowler, prosecuting, said Rowe had very little in her account, but her balance then started to rise and by November 2004 it was over £20,000.

"Over a period of about a year almost £40,000 went into and out of that account," he said. "Money was going out of Mr Crowhurst’s various accounts."

An investigation was launched and she was found to have new items in her home in Cumberland Avenue, Shepway, and there was paperwork for the purchase of a car.

When arrested, Rowe, who admitted 26 theft charges, said she was being paid £5-an-hour to do housework for Mr Crowhurst at his home in College Road.

Asked about a £16,000 discrepancy, she said the victim had told her to keep it for all she had done for him.

Mr Crowhurst, now in a nursing home, said he had not given Rowe any money.