A DARWEN bank worker helped herself to more than £12,000 from customer accounts, initially targeting an 83-year-old man who she perceived to be "confused and vulnerable".

Then Ashleigh Bentley, 27, took £5,000 from another account to try and cover her tracks, Blackburn magistrates heard.

And before she was finally arrested the Barclays Bank employee took £2,800 out of the account of a dead man.

Bentley, of Marsh House Lane, Darwen, pleaded guilty to five charges of theft from her employer. She was committed on bail for sentence at the crown court after the magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient.

Announcing their decision the chairman said the offences had been committed over a period of time and were clearly planned.

"The victims were vulnerable people who you thought would fail to notice what had happened," he added.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said the first three offences, in February, March and April, involved the account of an 83-year-old customer. Bentley withdrew sums of £1,000 and two lots of £2,000.

In May she transferred £5,000 from another account to try and cover the three separate withdrawals.

On July 13 a Mr Scott went into the branch to report that his father had died and asked for all his bank accounts to be frozen.

"That was done but two days later the defendant withdrew £2,800," said Mr Ainge.

"The total withdrawals are £12,800 although the defendant has benefited to the tune of £7,800."

When bank investigators first approached Bentley she denied involvement but when she was arrested admitted what she had done. She said she had £600 council tax arrears and had also made repairs to her kitchen which had been damaged by fire.

"This lady was in a position of trust and it is clear that she picked the account of an elderly customer who she perceived to be confused so she could use that as cover," added Mr Ainge.