A carer has been jailed for 15 months after stealing £42,000 from a 65 year old to fund her online bingo addiction. Dawn Kyle, 61, was withdrawing up to £800 a day from her victims account after becoming addicted to bingo.

The Suffolk lady admitted four offences of theft between January and October 2009 which came to £42,140. The victim who was a childhood friend was left in debt as a result of the thefts.

Prosecuting, Matthew Gowen, told Ipswich Crown Court that the victim had become a heavy drinker after his marriage collapsed 20 years ago and had been diagnosed with manic depression and reduced brain function.

Judge Roderick Newton told her: 'What you did over a period of time was to steal a substantial amount of money from someone who was a childhood friend and who relied on you for his well being.'

The judge added that the victim from Ipswich was penniless and in addition was having to deal with creditors which she racked up bills with.

The judge warned: 'The message needs to go out that in circumstances such as this there can only be one sentence.

'My duty is such that I would be failing if I didn't send you to prison.'