A carer stole thousands of pounds from an elderly Sittingbourne couple who had dementia.

More than £12,000 was taken from Ann and Dennis Baldock's joint bank account between February and March last year while Gemma Day looked after them.

During a hearing at Maidstone Magistrates' Court Day, 29, of Victoria Street, Sheerness, pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by abuse of position.

She entered a basis of plea, which the Crown Prosecution Service accepted.

This stated the Sheppey mum withdrew around £6,000 while a second person, who has not yet been charged, withdrew the rest.

Ann Baldock has early onset dementia while her husband has dementia and was bed-bound at the time. He is now in a care home.

Sobbing in the court the mother-of-four heard prosecutor Victoria McGrady detail how she had taken around £200 to £250 on multiple occasions using Mrs Baldock's debit card.

It wasn't until Mrs Baldock's brother noticed the transactions on her bank statements that police were informed.

Ms McGrady told the court an offence like this, over a prolonged period, was an abuse of trust and targeted vulnerable victims.

It could carry a custodial sentence of 18 months.

Defending, Eleanor Dobson asked for a pre-sentence report to be conducted before sentencing due to several factors in Day's personal life.

She added how she cares for three children, while a fourth lives with their father, and argued a custodial sentence would have a "severe impact" on them. The mother has no previous convictions.

Due to the amount of money taken from the elderly couple, Day will appear at Maidstone Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be confirmed.

She was released on unconditional bail.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne

Read more: All the latest news from Sheerness