A heartless daughter stole more than £60,000 from her ailing father and spent it on drugs, alcohol and gifts, a court heard.

Jennifer Smith offered to help Ian Blanthorn, 88, with his finances because of his worsening dementia, but instead raided his bank accounts.

Jailing her for two-and-a-half years, a judge told her: “This case is a sad and unattractive one. You exploited his vulnerability.”

Smith, whose father lives in Sevenoaks, admitted fraud by abuse of position.

Prosecutor Christina Rowberry said Mr Blanthorn described becoming confused but still had awareness of day to day living and his financial circumstances.

He had helped Smith out with money. They became estranged for a while but she then started to visit him regularly.

“He was glad the relationship was renewed,” Miss Rowberry told Maidstone Crown Court.

“She began helping him around the house and with his finances.

““This case is a sad and unattractive one. You exploited his vulnerability" - Judge Charles Macdonald

But while Mr Blanthorn was abroad on holiday; Smith, 50, accessed his bank account online and transferred money for her own purposes.

Over an 11-month period she took various amounts totalling £60,541.

Mr Blanthorn became concerned about his finances. He noticed his credit card was missing and that transactions were made.

“He was devastated,” said Miss Rowberry. “He was lying on his bed crying because he couldn’t believe what had happened.”

His cousin, who looked into his finances, said Mr Blanthorn’s reaction would stay with her forever. He was rolling on his bed wailing about how his daughter was tearing him apart.

Smith was throwing money around, according to her daughter. She visited in a high performance car and spent cash on her family.

When arrested, Smith, of Wickham Avenue, Bexhill, said she did not realise she had taken that much. She admitted to buying drugs and alcohol.

Passing sentence, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said: “To make matters worse, you spent the money largely on crack cocaine, alcohol and gifts.

“It is a complex matter but probably rooted in sibling jealousy. I reject submissions based on mental health because there was no contact with the services until many months after the offences.”