A worker at an old people's home allegedly stole £32,500 from a frail pensioner, a court heard.

Elizabeth Barfoot is said to have cashed cheques written by Marjorie Guy over a two-year period.

The money is said to have been taken in increasingly large amounts while Mrs Guy was living at Richmond Methodist Home, Bexhill, in 2002 and 2003.

Nigel Taylor, prosecuting, said: "Mrs Guy was quite wealthy. She died recently at the age of 100.

"The fees for her accommodation and her meals were paid direct from her bank account.

"She needed only small amounts of cash to pay for things like sweets or to have her hair done.

"Managers kept a small float of cash in each residents' name which they asked for when they needed it."

He said Barfoot, of Windmill Drive, Bexhill, was one of two people at the home who had written authority to take cheques signed by Mrs Guy to her bank to be cashed.

Mr Taylor said: "The Crown says that Elizabeth Barfoot took advantage of this situation.

"She cashed cheques for much greater amounts than she had authority to withdraw.

When the cash was handed over at the bank it was dishonestly retained by her rather than being given to Mrs Guy.

"Her account shows that the amounts being taken out became larger. They began with cheques for £300 to £400 and by July, August and September 2003 had reached the £2,000 mark."

Mrs Guy's nephew withdrew authority for money to be taken from his aunt's account after he became suspicious. Mr Taylor said police were called in when Barfoot allegedly tried to cash a cheque for £900 in December 2003.

He told Hove Crown Court: "No large amounts of money were found in Mrs Guy's room after her death. The only things of value there were her wedding and engagement rings and £50."

Barfoot denies theft and attempted theft. The trial continues.