A "PREDATORY" care worker was convicted of stealing over £30,000 from the elderly employer whom she described as being "like a grandmother to her".

Suzanne Mitchell, 30, worked for pensioner Doris Humphrey in her home in Richmond Road, Leytonstone, as a £5 an hour cleaner, after responding to an advert in a newsagent's window in 1998.

But Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that, during her employment, Mitchell, also known as Suzanne Mullins, stole jewellery and two income bond certificates worth a total of £10,000.

She also persuaded her increasingly confused employer to empty her building society account of over £20,000, using the cash to buy an £8,000 BMW and paying for a family holiday for Mitchell, her daughter and partner.

After taking the title deeds, Mitchell even claimed to have inherited Mrs Humphrey's £180,000 home, telling her mother she had been offered it during a conversation.

But after the Mrs Humphrey died aged 83 in November last year, her nearest relative, second cousin Barbara Danahar, was shocked to find that belongings and jewellery bequeathed to her in a 1995 will were missing.

After Mrs Danahar voiced her fears to police, the court was told Mitchell even spoke to detectives wearing Mrs Humphrey's wedding ring.

During the trial Mitchell denied the theft of an engagement ring, a wedding ring, title deeds, two £5,000 income bond certificates and a quantity of documents from Mrs Humphrey.

She also denied a separate count of theft of £20,243 from Mrs Humphrey, telling the court that after she had spent time with the elderly lady, Mrs Humprey became "like a grandmother" to her.

Mitchell claimed that she had been given the house, rings, money and 31 years worth of Mrs Humphrey's diaries as presents and said she had stopped taking wages during 2000 and helped out as a friend.

But after just under four hours of deliberation, a jury of five men and six women found Mitchell guilty of both counts of theft.

Mitchell, of Oaks Lane, Newbury Park, was bailed to return to court for sentencing on January 2 on the condition that she lives at her home address and does not contact prosecution witnesses.

After conviction, Mitchell promised the court that she would not touch a sum of £3,500 left over from the £20,000 and invested by her pending any court decision over the money.

She was also ordered to hand over the BMW to Mrs Danahar, who will also receive the diaries, house deeds, rings and other items taken from the home.

Speaking outside the court, DC Jerry Roos said: "This was a very distasteful case involving a predatorial type of crime on a helpless old lady. Hearing of actions such as these certainly leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth."