A CLEANER who stole money from an elderly couple has been ordered to pay back more than £2,500 of her ill-gotten gains.

In April, Denise Hodgkinson, 44, was sent to prison for 12 months for stealing £6,000 from Harold and Doris Firman’s bank account.

Hodgkinson had been cleaning for the couple, who were both wheelchair bound, at their home in Fairweather Court, Padiham and stole money over a four year period from March 2005.

After gaining their trust, she took their cash card and withdrew money several times.

She has now appeared again at Preston Crown Court where she was ordered to pay back £2,517.76 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Hodegkinson must pay it within 28 days or face a further one month in prison and still owe the money on her release, with accrued interest.

Speaking after the hearing, financial investigator Det Con Adrian Crorken, said: “Hodgkinson abused her position of trust and deliberately targeted an elderly and vulnerable couple.

She had callously stole money from their savings in what can only be described as a despicable offence.

“We will continue to target those who profit from crime at all levels in our communities.

“By targeting these proceeds of crime we send a clear message that crime doesn’t pay and as this case demonstrates, we have the powers and we are prepared to use them.”

Hodgkinson, of Windermere Road, Padiham, was caught after the Firmans, who were both in their 80s, moved into Hilton Residential Home.

She asked a worker there for their cash card, which raised suspicions and the police were called.