A nursing home matron stole almost £1 million from a mentally ill couple she was supposed to be caring for.

Elizabeth Ayrey, 53, systematically swindled the man and his wife, who were both in their 80s and too ill to know what was happening to them.

Edward Marke had made his money from showbusiness.

He had been part of the legal team that looked after merchandising for The Beatles in their early career and later became a successful legal executive for personalities.

But his past meant nothing to Ayrey who saw him as nothing more than an easy route to a life of luxury.

Mr Marke's mental health deteriorated and he and wife Dorothy moved into The Gables nursing home in Ifield, Crawley, where Ayrey was matron.

He liked Ayrey and handed over hundreds of pounds, offers which she should have refused.

Instead, she fell for the temptation and opened bank accounts.

She spent the money on what the court heard was a lavish lifestyle, at one time buying herself her own nursing home.

At Hove Crown Court yesterday, Ayrey, whose last address was Rusper Road, Crawley, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of theft totalling more than £880,000.

She stood head bowed as Judge Guy Anthony jailed her for two-and-a-half years.

He told her: "You were in a position of trust and were well aware Mr and Mrs Marke suffered dementia.

"Their mental state was not such as to make it honest of you to take the very substantial amounts of money offered to you."

The judge adjourned the issue of compensation to the Markes and confiscation of Ayrey's assets to April 23.

Detective Mick Haigh, who investigated the case for Sussex Police, said he was satisfied with the outcome.

"This was a terrible breach of trust by Ayrey. She took advantage of two elderly and very vulnerable people she should have been taking care of."