A 49-year-old woman from Bracknell has been jailed for 32 months for defrauding elderly victims of more than £30,000.

Donna Mullady, 49, was revealed during a police investigation to be committing her crimes while working as a carer for elderly and vulnerable adults.

She admitted to three counts of fraud by false representation on May 13 at Reading Crown Court.

Mullady executed her deceitful schemes between November 2017 and February 2019.

She stole from three elderly men aged 59, 82 and 91 while offering to help them with food shopping.

Mullady would withdraw cash from her victims' bank accounts and deposit it into her own.

The unscrupulous carer also exploited their bank cards at high street stores such as Primark, New Look and JD Sports - places her victims wouldn't normally shop.

She misused their funds to clear a car loan, phone contract, Botox treatments and even plush holidays to Thailand and Barbados.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Rachel Pithers expressed satisfaction at the sentencing.

She said: "I am extremely pleased that Mullady has been given a custodial sentence following what was a long and complex investigation.

"She was working as a carer to the elderly and vulnerable community at this time, yet she took advantage of vulnerable adults for her own personal gain."

DC Pithers also thanked the victims and their families for supporting the investigation and emphasised the force’s commitment to bringing fraudsters to justice.

She added: "Fraud is extremely damaging for individuals and, often, such investigations are complicated and challenging but as a force we will investigate and look to bring offenders before the courts to face justice."