Gemma Simpkins, of Cranmer Street, Ilkeston, abused her position as manager of Heathcotes Care, in Sawley, and conned vulnerable residents out of thousands of pounds.

Simpkins, 27, was responsible for the bank cards of residents, who suffer from learning difficulties, including Asperger's Syndrome and autism, who had weekly pocket money of between £10 and £30.

The thefts came to light when a resident's mother discovered large cash withdrawals had been made while her daughter was seriously ill in hospital. The care home carried out a full review and discovered money had been taken from four patients' accounts, between March, 2007 and July, 2008.

Simpkins, pleaded guilty to four charges of theft and also one of fraud at Derby Crown Court on Thursday.

She had also applied for a loan under the name of a patient, the court heard.

The court was told she managed the Sawley home in Bradshaw Street from August until November, 2006. She then moved to a similar unit at Watnall, in Nottinghamshire until July last year. Offences were committed at both homes.

Prosecutor Simon Ash said: "The residents from whom she stole had significant mental health difficulties."

He added only one was aware of what had happened.

Matthew Smith, in mitigation, said what had started out as an impulsive action, when Simpkins was riddled with debt, had turned into a sophisticated operation.

He added: "Mrs Simpkins is genuinely sorry for what she has done and thoroughly ashamed of her actions."

Judge Hilary Watson said the stolen cash amounted to £19,120 and the fraudulent loan brought the total to about £24,000.

She added: "You abused that trust and having got away with it continued to do so.

"I accept your motivation was to fund a huge debt you had incurred yourself. It was easy, you weren't detected and you got away with it but the consequences are you face a prison sentence."