RELATIVES of a frail pensioner whose bank account was emptied after her death have spoken of their disgust at the sentence given to the woman responsible.

Diane Jones, 48, admitted stealing from 82-year-old family friend Maureen Board, whom she used to take on regular outings to the bingo.

Cardiff Crown Court ordered Jones, of Heol Danyrodyn, Pentyrch, to repay £1,570 compensation to Mrs Board’s estate with £300 costs. She was also given a three-month curfew order and a 12-month community order.

Mrs Board, a mother of eight who lived around the corner from Jones in Fair Meadow, Pentyrch, died in hospital on October 21 from superbug C Difficile. But Jones continued to pilfer from her bank account for days afterwards.

Relatives of Mrs Board – who was known to her friends as Mo – yesterday said the court case had come as a double blow as both families have been friends for decades and their children grew up together. Mrs Board’s son, Colin, was best man at Jones’ wedding, and their sons are best friends.

Daughter-in-law Lynda Board said: “We think she’s got off extremely lightly under the circumstances. It wouldn’t make any difference to me what sentence they gave her. It wouldn’t be enough.

“What Diane did was a total betrayal of trust. How could somebody so close to Mo do something so cruel?

“I don’t know if any of us can forgive her for what she’s done. She would have given you her last. Mo thought the world of Diane.

“Hopefully we can now grieve properly for Mo.”

Mrs Board’s family said they realised money was missing from her bank account when letters opened after her death revealed she was overdrawn.

The court heard Mrs Board had given Jones her bank card and pin number so that she could withdraw bingo money for her.

Daughter Carol Hann said of the verdict: “It’s not what we would have liked. It’s been the worst possible time.”

Colin, who is godfather to Jones’ eldest son, said: “It’s driven a wedge between everybody. But at least Diane can’t do this to anybody else. This is someone I’ve known all my life. They were supposed to be good friends.

“You hear about this sort of thing but you never think about it happening to you. My mother put a lot of trust and faith in that woman only for her to steal from her.”