The former manager of a home for adults with mental and physical disabilities in Ramsgate has been jailed for eight months for stealing from residents.

Sekayi Gotora, 48, ran up debts of £30,000 through online shopping, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

She had admitted stealing £500 from one resident and £3,290 from another when she appeared in court on November 9 and on Friday came before Judge Adele Williams for sentence.

Edmund Fowler, prosecuting, said Gotora, of Westover Road, Broadstairs, started working at Rose Farm House in Haine Road in 2008.

Last year, a new resident arrived at the home whose father was a trustee of his bank account.

"This is a serious breach of trust" - Judge Adele Williams

He noticed £500 had been taken from the account and reported it. Gotora said it was used for the resident's daily care but his father was not satisfied by this explanation and went to the police.

"More discrepancies were found in another resident's account, where £3,290 had been taken," Mr Fowler said.

At first Gotora, who was of previous good character, denied any responsibility for the missing money but then admitted she had taken it for her own use.

Judge Williams said: "This is a serious breach of trust."

Kieron Moroney, defending, said Gotora had an overwhelming sense of guilt and remorse.

"She is genuine about her regret at what she has done," he told the court. "She loved the work she was doing and she was doing well but she had £30,000 of debt by getting involved in online shopping.

"Her husband is profoundly shocked by this but he is standing by her. She has lost her good character and had to face her husband and daughter."

Judge Williams told Gotora: "You were the manager of a residential care home for adults with learning disabilities. You stole and defrauded these sums of money from the residents.

"You have shown genuine remorse but the level of trust was very high and only a custodial sentence is suitable."