A WOMAN who went on an 18-month-long spending spree with £50,000 rifled from a dead man's bank account has been jailed for 12 months.

Hayley Jackson frittered away Philip Hardaker's estate on cocaine, alcohol, handbags, shoes, jewellery and items from Ann Summers' stores, Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday.

She sold his car for £6,750 and pocketed the cash and paid her mobile phone bill and vehicle insurance.

Jackson, 41, of Orleans Street, Buttershaw, Bradford, pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud by false representation.

Prosecutor Robert Galley said that Mr Hardaker, who had a heart condition, died aged 60 on March 29, 2015, in Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Jackson, whose mother had been in a relationship with him, was sharing his home in Blucher Street, Laisterdyke, Bradford, the court was told.

Mr Hardaker's sister, Mrs Metcalfe, who inherited his estate, lived in another part of the country and had not been in contact with him. She did not learn of her brother's death for 20 months, Mr Galley said.

Mr Hardaker, who had worked for Northern Power Grid, kept his money in the TSB in Bradford. After numerous transactions were made on his bank account after his death, staff were anonymously tipped off about a fraud and the account was stopped.

In all, Jackson took £50,983 from the account using a debit card and in cash withdrawals.

She told the police she spent the money on handbags, shoes, jewellery and at Ann Summers shops. Jackson also bought cocaine and alcohol.

Mr Galley said the TSB had refunded Mrs Metcalfe all the money but the cash from the car was still outstanding.

Jackson had two previous convictions, for theft and handling stolen goods, dating back more than 20 years.

In mitigation, her barrister, Howard Shaw, said: "She is very sorry. She has been very foolish. She liked to shop and spend money on clothes and other silly things."

Jackson was now off drugs but she still drank 12 cans of cider a day, said Mr Shaw.

"She is extremely fearful and realises there is a very real chance of Your Honour sending her to jail today," Mr Shaw told Deputy Circuit Judge James Spencer QC.

"She was very close to Mr Hardaker and his death hit her very hard," he added.

Jackson now lived on benefits in rented accommodation and was unable to work because she suffered from anxiety and depression.

"Essentially, the money has been frittered away," Mr Shaw said.

Judge Spencer told Jackson: "Over a very protracted period, you rifled this bank account and treated this man's property as your own.

"You treated yourself to extravagances. It was a mean, mean offence that you committed over that period of time and there is absolutely no mitigation for it.

"This kind of dishonesty will not be tolerated."

A Proceeds of Crime Application timetable was set to try to claw back the outstanding money owed to Mrs Metcalfe for the car.