A WOMAN has been jailed for a year for stealing more than £8,000 from a Hampshire pensioner while working as his cleaner.

Jennifer Paulley, 52, took a bank card belonging to 81-year-old Frank McIlreavy, and went on a ten-day spending spree with money the pensioner had been saving for his funeral.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court she was told her dishonesty had “sickened” her elderly victim, leaving him unable to trust others.

Jodie Mittell, prosecuting, said Paulley, 52, of Lower Shawlands, Hursley, had cleaned for Mr McIlreavy for several months, initially as a representative from an agency and later on a private basis.

In July last year he became aware of Paulley’s fraudulent activity after receiving a letter from his bank.

Police launched an investigation and established that she had used the card to withdraw cash from ATMs, as well as making a series of purchases that included clothes, curtains and a blue-ray player.

Ms Mittell said Mr McIlreavy, of Deacon Road, Southampton, had been saving the money to enable his family to pay his funeral.

She added that his trust in people had been “tested” as a result of Paulley’s crimes.

His current cleaner was someone he had known for years but he felt wary about letting her into his home.

The money stolen by Paulley has since repaid by the pensioner’s bank, the court heard.

The defendant, who had previous convictions for benefit fraud, admitted theft.

Alistair Wright, in mitigation, said she cleaned for Mr McIlreavy for 18 months before turning to crime as a result of her “appalling” financial crisis.

“This is not someone who went all out to take advantage,” he said.

“This is someone who came to crime quite late in the day. This was about making a home and dealing with debt.”

But the Recorder, Marcus Regilas-Davey, told her: “This was a mean offence that was clearly a breach of trust. All this against an 81-year-old man who had invited you into his home to be his cleaner. It’s had a significant effect on him.”

Mr Regilas-Davey said the victim felt “sick and upset” that she had stolen his money.

He added: “It’s so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be imposed.”

Paulley has been jailed for 12 months. There was no order for costs or compensation.