A Kings Hill woman who stole more than £35,000 from her dementia suffering father has been sentenced to 12 months behind bars.

Linda Cooper, formerly of Durello Avenue, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, January 20 having previously pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud.

The 50-year-old had been entrusted to manage Raymond Bartholomew’s money, who was reciveing care in hospitals and nursing homes.

Despite the position of trust Cooper dipped into her father’s funds to pay for her own day to day living expenses, meals out and holidays between 2007 and 2012.

Family members raised the alarm in 2012, following suspicions that thousands of pounds had been spent without permission of the victim, who died the following year.

She was also sentenced to a further eight months, to be served concurrently, for a failure to declare the extent of her father’s assets to Kent County Council, which was partially funding his care bill.

DC Brian Elsdon, of Kent Police’s public protection unit said: “This was a serious breach of trust against a very vulnerable victim who was suffering from debilitating mental illnesses.

“Cooper knew that he was no longer well enough to keep an eye on his own finances and used this to her advantage to deposit large sums of money into her own bank accounts in order to pay for her own lifestyle.

“Hopefully this sentence will reinforce the message that crime does not pay and that our officers will use every opportunity and legislation available to make sure criminals don't profit from their crimes.”

These assets would have affected the family's contributions to the costs of Mr Bartholomew's care.