A VULNERABLE widow whose best friend helped her battle cancer was betrayed when his daughter stole more than £2,000 from her bank account.

Mary Lawrence said she had been "treated like poison" by her friend Ray Trodden's daughter Melanie.

The 75-year-old former shopkeeper said: "I feel totally betrayed. It's taken its toll on me."

Melanie Trodden withdrew £2,400 cash from Ms Lawrence's bank account without permission between March 5 and March 22. Magistrates said it was "particularly reprehensible behaviour".

Trodden, of Leslie Street, Tonge Moor, admitted fraud by false representation at Bolton Magistrates' Court.

The 41-year-old was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for a year, on June 22.

When the case was over, Mrs Lawrence explained that she and Ray had been a couple for 10 years. She said: "I have aggressive invasive breast cancer and I was given six months to live five years ago.

"I paid for my funeral then decided I wanted to live because my daughter got liver cancer about the same time, and just gave up. She died within weeks.

"But with the help of my best friend, Ray, taking all the stress off me, I'm still alive."

As Mrs Lawrence's health failed, Ray took over the care of her dog Brandy, although she continued to cover the cost of dog food, pet insurance and other expenses.

But Mrs Lawrence, who lives in Tonge Moor, said: "Ray had my bank card and somehow his daughter got hold of my bank card.

"She went to the cash machine 62 times in two weeks. She took nearly £2,400 out.

"On one day alone she went to the cash machine 13 times.

"Every Christmas Day for years I've given Melanie £400, taken her out for meals and bought the children's clothes.

"Now she is treating me like I'm poison.

"What I find the worst is the money was my 'hospital money' — money I had saved since I was diagnosed with cancer to pay for private end-of-life care if I need it.

"And Melanie knew everything. Ray was always talking about what a good girl she was and I would never have thought she was a thief."

Largely housebound, Mrs Lawrence only discovered the fraud when a six-page bank statement arrived detailing every unauthorised withdrawal.

Besides her suspended jail term, Trodden was ordered to pay £500 compensation, a victim surcharge of £80 and court costs of £85 and must complete 15 days of rehabilitation activity.

Mrs Lawrence's bank has repaid her the balance of the stolen sum, the court was told.

Magistrates noted at the time of sentencing Trodden: "This was a offence a breach of at least a measure of trust by using the victim's bank card – these were indictments of fraudulent activity when you knew the victim's circumstances.

"It was particularly reprehensible behaviour."