Maureen Allen admitted stealing money from her aunt after finding herself in financial difficulties

A CO Down woman who admitted stealing thousands of pounds from an elderly aunt she was caring for, has avoided jail after her six month sentence was suspended for a year.

Judge Patricia Smyth told Maureen Allen (58) from Meadow Court, Newtownards, that such cases normally warrant a custodial sentence.

However, the Belfast Crown Court judge told Allen she felt "justified" in suspending her sentence given her guilty pleas and early admissions.

Judge Smyth said she also recognised Allen was "deeply ashamed" for what she had done, which had resulted in her losing her "reputation within your family".

The judge said Allen, who stole around £11,000, had "given into temptation" after finding herself in financial difficulties.

Earlier prosecutor Simon Jenkins said that Allen attempted to hide her thefts by re-directing her aunt's bank statements to her own address.

Maureen Allen admitted stealing money from her aunt after finding herself in financial difficulties

However, matters came to light when her aunt visited the bank to complain about not receiving statements.

Mr Jenkins said that the thefts began when her aunt was ill in hospital and that between August 2015 and May the following year, Allen took a substantial amount of cash in 73 separate transactions, mostly from ATM withdrawals.

Defence barrister Chris Holmes said that Allen acknowledged the harm she had done but found herself in financial difficulties following the break-up of her marriage.

As part of her sentence, Allen was ordered to pay £500 compensation, which she had earlier lodged in court.