A SEDGLEY woman who stole more than £9,000 from a disabled man residing at the care home she worked at has been locked up for nine months.

Sharon Raybould, aged 42, was deputy manager at Pathways Care Home in Woodsetton Road, Sedgley, when she took the money in amounts varying between £50 and £200, using the man's pin number as she wanted to ease her personal finances.

The victim was a man in his 50's, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told, and because of his medical difficulties he was unable to look after himself.

She was rumbled when discrepancies were discovered in his account, said Kevin Jones, prosecuting, who stressed there was no suggestion suspicion fell on any other staff members at the home.

Raybould of Beacon Lane, admitted theft and she was full of remorse for her actions, said Simon Hanns defending.

He told the court she was a woman of unblemished character and she had used the money to prop up her own finances Mr Hanns said Raybould, who accepted she had taken a substantial amount of money from the account, had significant family difficulties.

Mr Jones said the victim did not have the capacities to look after himself and Raybould had been making straightforward withdrawals from his account.

He said she would not have to return to the court at a date to be fixed in the future to face a proceeds of crime hearing when her assets could be seized.

"She was in a high degree of trust at the care home and this was offending over a considerable period of time," said Mr Jones.

Recorder Phillip Shears QC told Raybould it was "mean" offending and a serious breach of trust.

He added: "You took advantage and you stole from him on as many as 80 occasions over a two year period.

"This was protracted theft and immediate custody is inevitable."