The woman who blew the whistle on the wicked matron waited more than two years to see justice done.

It was in 2000 that Sarah Hadaway, a probate executive, first spotted something was wrong and set in motion a chain of events that led to Ayrey's imprisonment.

Elizabeth Ayrey contacted Miss Hadaway's firm, ASB Law in Horsham, concerning the sale of Mr and Mrs Marke's home in Crawley.

Miss Hadaway discovered the couple had insufficient funds to pay for their nursing care yet a relative told her the couple were millionnaires.

Where had all their money gone?

Miss Hadaway and three colleagues, ASB partners Andrew Clinton and John Innes and secretary Lorraine Lee, worked on the case.

They reported their suspicions to Sussex Police and the commercial crime branch launched an investigation.

ASB themselves were appointed by the Court of Protection to investigate.

The firm went to the High Court and sued Ayrey and her husband Anthony on behalf of the couple for £1.2 million, which the firm believes has gone missing.

Miss Hadaway said she had mixed reaction to the length of Ayrey's sentence but praised her colleagues: "We all worked extremely hard on this."

Mr Innes, appointed receiver for the elderly couple, said he was concerned money taken by Ayrey would disappear and he successfully applied for an order freezing Ayrey's assets.

The judgement against the Ayreys remains in place today.

Mr Innes said he was concerned about the welfare and protection of the elderly from unscrupulous people.

He said: "This case highlights the vulnerability of the elderly when they are unable to manage their financial affairs.

"It is important they are looked after by someone they can trust and legal advice sought to protect assets.

"Similarly, worried relatives should seek legal advice and a receiver can be appointed by the Court of Protection which, with the assistance of the Public Guardianship Office, will manage affairs safely.

"Mrs and Mrs Marke are a very elderly couple who, because of their declining mental health, do not understand what is happening.

"My role as their receiver, with the help of the Crown, is to recover as much money as we can for Mr and Mrs Marke and to give them the best possible standard of living in their declining years."