A carer has been accused of stealing thousands of pounds from her 100-year-old mother.

Margaret Flatman, 60, is accused of stealing more than £44,000 from her mother after she was put into a home.

Flatman, of Cambridge Road, Eastbourne, is charged with fraud by false representation.

Former professional carer Flatman was told in court yesterday that as part of her bail conditions she cannot work with vulnerable people until she has appeared before a jury. Flatman was given permission to keep visiting her mother at the home.

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She is accused of taking £44,500, which came from her the sale of her mother's house and was intended to be used to pay for her care home fees, from her mother's bank account.

She is also accused of stealing a credit card from another woman.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Peter Bolwell told Hastings Magistrates' Court yesterday that both the alleged offences involved an “abuse of trust”.

He said: “The victim was the defendant's mother. She is 100-years-old.

“She is an elderly lady in a vulnerable capacity. Her house was sold and she moved into a care home.

“The care home manager wasn't being paid for her care and found that money had been taken from her account.”

District Judge Tessa Szagun ordered that Flatman's case was so serious that it must be heard before a judge and jury at the crown court.

Flatman has not yet formally entered a plea to the charges and was released on conditional bail to appear at Lewes Crown Court on May 8.