When Jewell Ryan moved into an elderly couple’s Hampshire home to become a live-in carer she was meant to make their lives easier.

{mosimage}But just nine months later she faked a massive burglary and arranged for the theft of 200 highly valuable items from her employers.The haul was estimated to be worth up to £400,000.

The 59-year-old used a glossy brochure produced by Winchester auctioneers Bonhams to select the most valuable items from Leeland House in the High Street, Twyford.

She even stole treasured personal possessions by rifling though drawers in the room where the elderly woman she was meant to be caring for was lying in bed suffering from dementia.

However, her despicable actions involving two accomplices were exposed after police became suspicious about her allegation of a burglary and subsequently found Ch’ing dynasty porcelain in her suitcase.

Today Ryan, of Alexander Road, Hemel Hempstead, is beginning a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence after a Winchester Crown Court jury found her guilty of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to obtain property by deception.

She was found guilty of using a stolen credit card to obtain goods worth £2,271 and £2,200 in cash.

Four people charged with neglecting residents at an old people’s home have today had their case adjourned until the New Year at the request of defence lawyers.

People with dementia in care homes typically spend just two minutes in every six hours talking to others, according to a major report highlighting widespread failings in dementia care.

Planned legislation to reform the care system fails to ensure abused children receive vital therapy, according to a child-protection charity.