Elizabeth Ayrey threw away a lifetime of honest hard work when she decided to rip off a millionaire pensioner and his wife.

Insiders believe she took more than £1 million and bought homes for friends and enjoyed the best life could offer - a stark contrast to her beginnings.

Born in Malaysia, Ayrey came to the UK in 1969 to study nursing in London. She met her first husband when they worked in Germany and the couple had a daughter. She returned to the UK and married her current husband. They have one child.

The couple set up their own nursing home but when that failed Ayrey went to work as a matron.

She joined The Gables in 1998 and during the next 18 months she used her position to steal the assets of Mr Marke.

James Wood, for Ayrey, said his client had previously been of good character with no previous convictions.

Ayrey admitted her mistakes but said Mr Marke was perfectly capable of making gifts and it was his idea she should open new accounts for the money.

Other charges against Ayrey have been left on file because they concerned gifts made at a time it could not be proved Mr Marke was anything but compos mentis.

He said Ayrey's circumstances and state of mind at the time may have affected her judgement when she decided to keep the gifts.

She had undergone surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer and suffered from depression.

Stephen Holt, prosecuting, agreed Ayrey was a hard-working woman with long experience in looking after the elderly but said: "Mrs Ayrey was well aware of the policies concerning gifts from residents to staff. Any dealings of a financial nature should be registered in writing."

In early 1999 there were warning signs Mr and Mrs Marke could not handle their affairs and even Ayrey herself recorded how they were deteriorating.

But she continued to take advantage.

Mr Holt told how a niece and her husband became increasingly worried about the Marke's financial affairs yet Ayrey showed no concern.

Instead she deposited cheques into accounts only she could access. She bought a nursing home in Lincolnshire for cash and later mortgaged the home so she could spend more money.

In November 2000, The Gables flooded and the Markes were moved out. Ayrey was arrested the following year.

Mr Holt said most of the Markes' money had not been recovered but investigations to retrieve as much as possible were continuing.

Antony Selva, owner of The Gables, last night said Ayrey's crimes involved no one else at the home.

"The home is running normally," he said.