A WINSFORD carer who stole money from a disabled woman has put the theft down to a chance meeting with a person from her past.

Lucy May Pemberton, 24, of Station Road, admitted stealing a total of £175 from her victim on four separate occasions when she appeared in Northwich Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

The incidents took place at the victim's home between July 20 and August 8 while Pemberton was supposed to be caring for the woman who is wheelchair bound.

Derek MacDonald, defending, told magistrates that his client's actions were out of character and were triggered by an encounter she had with a stall holder at Beeston Market.

She recognised that person as someone from her distant past

Mr MacDonald said: "The person she met at the stall was totally out of the blue and as a direct result of that it brought back horrible memories."

Mr MacDonald claimed his client became depressed following the chance encounter and does not remember stealing the money from her victim.

He said: "She's a lady in turmoil and can't put any reason as to why she behaved in this way and why she took money from a lady she loved.

"Because of her memory problems she accepts any money that went missing she was responsible for.

"She's a carer in someone else's home and she has abused that trust and she knows that more than anybody."

Chairman of the bench Moira Chapman adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports but ruled out the possibility of custody.

She said: "This was a vulnerable victim and you were in a position of trust. The harm you have caused this victim is the loss of money which could have been used for her needs."

Pemberton will be sentenced on October 13.