A 56-YEAR-OLD woman has admitted stealing almost £26,000 from her 92-year-old mother in law.

Anne King, of Fairmead, Cam, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to theft of £25,945.80 from Joan King between April 9, 2008 and August 28, 2010.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC bailed her until March 7 for a pre-sentence report and an assessment by a mental health nurse. He waned her that prison is likely, especially as she has a previous similar conviction for theft.

Joan King, formerly of Frampton on Severn, now lives in The Elms nursing home in Stonehouse.

The court was told at an earlier hearing that the theft had left Joan King seriously in arrears with her nursing home fees.

Rupert Lowe, prosecuting, told the court that Anne King and her husband owned a £25,000 bond which would go almost all the way to repaying the amount stolen.

But despite a long period when she was promising to cash it she had not done so, he said.

In those circumstances, he said, there would have to be a proceeds of crime investigation into Mrs King's finances to see what could be confiscated from her.