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An animal shelter boss who kept a pensioner as a modern-day slave for more than four years and made her eat pet food has been jailed.

The victim, now aged 74, was sometimes locked out of Maria Miller’s Chingford home and made to sleep in the shed. She was forced to eat tinned cat and dog food to survive.

While the pensioner was living in squalid conditions, Miller raided her benefits and pension to splash out on designer clothes, take holidays abroad and buy herself a new car.

Miller, 65, was found guilty of two counts of holding another in servitude and one count of theft in June.

And on Friday at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Miller was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

The court heard Miller met the victim outside a pet shop and invited her to volunteer in her charity shop.

In 2012 she persuaded the woman, who has learning difficulties, to move into her home address.

She then made her sleep on the floor and carry out tasks such as weeding the garden or clearing out animal shelters in exchange for meals or coming back inside the house, meaning she was often left outside working until late at night.

Miller also took control of the victim’s bank account, became executor and sole trustee in her will and tried to persuade her to sell a property she owned, as well as refusing her access to a mobile phone, money or access to her own pension.

She also lost a significant amount of weight as Miller often refused to provide meals for a number of days, as well as forcing her to sleep on the floor or in an outhouse.

In June 2016, the victim managed to run away from the address and reported the abuse to police.

Miller was eventually charged in November last year.

Det Sgt James Earle, who led the investigation, said Miller had "targeted one of society’s most vulnerable".

"The sentence received today reflects the gravity of her actions," Det Sgt Earle said.

“This was a long and challenging investigation but we are pleased that Miller has now been brought to justice.

“We know that the victim will never forget the years she spent in constant fear but we hope that she has some closure now Miller is behind bars.

“Her bravery in coming forward to police and reliving some of the worst experiences of her life in court is testament to her strength of character and we hope this sends out a message that the Met will seek to bring the strongest charges for such shocking criminal conduct where appropriate.”