A 59-YEAR-OLD woman stole £1,458 collected by 25 elderly people living in sheltered accommodation, a court heard.

Charee Kelly helped herself to the cash over eight months while acting as treasurer of the Whittlebrook House, Trinity Crescent Residence Association, Worsley, Manchester city magistrates’ were told.

The residents had set up a fund to pay for social activities. None of the money was recovered.

Kelly admitted theft. She was given 12 weeks jail, suspended for a year, and ordered to repay the money.

District Judge Mark Hadfield said: “This was a particularly mean and nasty offence. You betrayed the trust of your neighbours and what you did crosses the custody threshold.”

The court heard that Kelly, who had been living at Whittlebrook House, would now lose her flat.