A THIEF has been sentenced to three years in prison after she stole money from an elderly woman she was supposed to be caring for.

Nazish Nair, of Gloucester Avenue, Slough, admitted to burglary and was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on March 19.

Nazir, 37, entered the sheltered accommodation in Ranald Court, Ascot on November 7 and raided the pensioner's handbag for money.

Another resident spotted the thief and confronted her before she made excuses about what she was doing.

The victim, a 78-year-old woman, who was relying on Nazir to look after her, then returned to the property to realise her purse had been stolen from her handbag.

She then found that it had been stuffed down the back of her sofa with an unknown value of cash missing.

Investigating officer, detective constable Martin Key, based at Maidenhead police station, said: "Nobody should feel at risk in their own home, especially from people who are in a position of trust.

"I hope that this conviction will help give closure to our victim and help reassure the most vulnerable in our community that we will do our utmost to protect them."

Nazir was charged with the offence on January 12.