A CARER who abused her trusted position to cheat a cerebral palsy victim with learning difficulties out of about £13,000 has been warned to expect a prison sentence.

Maureen Blackwell, of Bramble Drive, Dursley, denied 13 charges of defrauding 64-year-old Margaret Russell, of Tewkesbury but at Gloucester Crown Court the jury convicted her of all but one of the charges.

Telling her to return to court for sentence on June 18, Recorder Stephen Hall said: "In the light of the convictions by the jury you must expect an immediate custodial sentence."

Prosecutor Rosie Walsh had told the jury at the start of the trial that Blackwell worked for the care agency Nursing Alliance and helped to look after Ms Russell at Marina Court, a sheltered housing complex in Tewkesbury.

Blackwell was one of a number of carers who worked 24 hours, seven days a week at the victim's home and in time she became her main carer.

Ms Walsh said withdrawals from Ms Russell's account always took place on days when Blackwell was working and some were made at a Tesco cash machine in Cam, close to Blackwell's home.

The 13 charges alleged that between April 14, 2010 and February 21, 2011 Blackwell defrauded Ms Russell of amounts ranging from £150 to £4,000 at a time.

In evidence, manager of Marina Court Rebecca Long said it was a complex for people 55 and over, many of whom needed care in their homes.

Margaret Russell, who got around in an electric wheelchair, went to lunch in the dining room every day, and would also call in to the office for a chat at other times.

She said at one time there was a problem with Ms Russell’s direct debit rent payment and spoke to Maureen Blackwell about it.

The only charge on which the jury cleared Blackwell was one alleging that she used Ms Russell's debit card on September 29, 2010 to buy six months tax for her own car.

Blackwell, who was of previous good character, had always denied any wrong doing.

She told the jury she was not responsible for the many large withdrawals from Ms Russell's account and she had always correctly booked down everything she did with the account on behalf of Ms Russell.

Blackwell was bailed for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.