A LEGAL executive in charge of elderly and vulnerable women's finances has gone to jail after taking £100,000 of their money to invest in a gym and spruce up her home.

Joni Kristina Parrington's victims were incapable of looking after their own assets and she abused their trust when she moved money without their permission while working at the Peacehaven branch of solicitors firm Lawson Lewis Blakers.

The mother-of-five claimed the investment would give the customers a 5% return in profit when Eastbourne-based Crossfit gym established itself at new premises.

But she defrauded the customers to make money for herself when she concealed the payments, left one customer with unpaid care home bills of £16,000 and helped herself to the money of another woman after she died, Lewes Crown Court heard.

Between September and December 2013, Parrington, now 36, of St Philips Avenue, Eastbourne, moved £104,889.70 out of four clients’ accounts.

The majority was paid to Crossfit gym owners Richard Robinson and Mark Goodwin after she heard they needed investors to expand the business. The remaining £9,500 was paid into a joint account she set up just weeks before with Karl Emery, described in court as her boyfriend.

Her plot unfolded when her secretary discovered an unpaid £16,000 nursing home bill for 96-year-old Elizabeth Parker.

The victim's bank account had been drained to transfer £39, 421.80 to Mr Goodwin on November 18, 2013 in a transaction labelled 'care home fee'.

Four days later £35,000 left the account of Gertrude Davies, who is in her 90s, and was paid to Mr Robinson. Parrington also moved £12,222.70 belonging to the late Irene Sayer on December 3, 2013, even though she had died just two weeks earlier.

Her fourth victim, Anne Westgate, was targeted twice.

A cheque for £8,745.20 was paid to Mr Robinson and a second, for £9,500, was cashed into Parrington and Mr Emery's joint account.

Mrs Westgate set the money aside for Christmas gifts but it was instead split between accounts belonging to Parrington and Mr Emery.

One of the transfers, to Parrington's personal account, was labelled 'home improvements', Eastbourne CID officers discovered during the eight-month investigation.

Parrington returned this money after she was arrested in January 2014 but the firm had to pay an insurance excess so the victims could be reimbursed, the court heard.

While Parrington pleaded guilty to six charges, two of fraud by false representation, three of fraud by abuse of position and one of money laundering, she denied her actions were for personal gain.

Wearing sandals, a black top and trousers with a grey cardigan and clutching a small blue handbag, Parrington wept as she addressed the court.

She said: "The clients had money sitting for a long time. I thought it was a growing business. This was never to have money for myself. I know this mess is my fault, but I never intended to put the firm at risk. I loved my job. I’m sorry. I didn’t deliberately do this."

Handing her six 38-month concurrent jail sentences, Judge Shani Barnes said there had been 'concealment at every stage', adding: "I feel for your poor children who you have put in this terrible position. The devastation you caused to your firm and the breach of trust is very serious. You have slipped very far from grace.”

Parrington will serve half the total three year and two month term in custody and half on licence.

A charge of money laundering, jointly with Parrington, against Mr Emery, 38, also of St Philips Avenue, Eastbourne, was dismissed.