A WOMAN who fleeced her 93-year-old aunt for more than £6,000 has been jailed for 16 months.

Susan Marsden, 61, of Fell Drive, Grange, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court yesterday (Friday) after pleading guilty to using Joan Edmonds’ bank card to withdraw £6,740 from Grange’s Spar and Co-op on nine occasions between January 4 and June 30 last year.

Sharyn Farrar, her daughter-in-law, attended court on her behalf as she is too frail.

Mrs Farrar said: “Joan is both relieved and thankful for it all to be over, but she can never forget what Susan has done, all the mistrust, all the lies.

“She was hoping for the sentence to be longer, but she is pleased that she can start to put it behind her.

“The judge said that what Susan did breached the trust of a vulnerable person.”

Mrs Farrar also described the moment when she saw Marsden stand up in court.

She said: “It was just disgusting to see her and to be in that position - it is a place I never hope to be ever again.

“Even when she apologised it didn’t seem genuine, as though she was just trying to get a reduced sentenced.

“The whole experience has been absolutely nerve-racking for Joan and everyday since her arrest there has been nothing else that she can think of, so hopefully this can help bring some comfort.

“The whole family is so disappointed with Susan and it has left a dirty feeling even to be associated with her.”

At an earlier court case, prosecutor Peter Kelly described the victim as ‘lonely but very independent’, saying she was a ‘vulnerable lady’ with limited movement.

District Judge Gerald Chalk told Marsden: “She trusted you and you abused that trust.”