A GAMBLING addict persuaded his girlfriend to steal more than £12,000 from her frail grandfather.

Warehouseman Lawrence Cudmore pressurised Emma Smart into finding out the PIN number for 80-year-old Arthur Sinclair's account.

He then transferred almost all the pensioner's life savings from a deposit account into his current account, so he could loot the money through cash machines.

Miss Smart, aged 27, was caring for her sickly relative at her home in Bideford. Exeter Crown Court heard she resented the amount of time she spent looking after him.

She helped Cudmore empty his accounts and then went gambling with him as they blew £12,110 in four months.

Cudmore, aged 39, of Glendale Terrace, Bideford, admitted theft and unemployed Smart, of High Street, Bideford, admitted fraud.

Both were both jailed for nine months by Judge Graham Cottle, but Smart's sentence was suspended.

The judge said to Smart: "This was a serious breach of trust. His life savings were seriously eroded.

"You are thoroughly and rightly ashamed of what you did and are yourself a vulnerable individual with a raft of problems.

"I have no doubt that Cudmore's culpability is greater than yours, notwithstanding the fact the victim is your grandfather. I accept you were to some extent under Cudmore's control."

He told Cudmore: "You are more to blame than her. You have shown limited remorse."

Mr David Bowen, for the prosecution, said: "The loser in this case is a man of modest means who is aged 80 and had some health difficulties and depended on others to help with his financial affairs."

Mr Bowen said the money stolen represented a very large proportion of the victim's life savings.

Miss Emily Pitts, for the defence of Smart said she suffered from depression, agoraphobia and mental illness which was as a result of abuse in childhood and adult life.

She said she came under the sway of Cudmore who she now realises led her astray.

She said: "She is trying hard to repay the money but so far has only saved £50. She is ashamed of what she has done and upset at how it has devastated her family."

Mr Richard Crabb, for Cudmore, said it had been a joint enterprise and they had both gone gambling together.