A DISABLED man caught his thieving carer in a "sting" operation, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard.

The former investment manager, who is paralysed from the neck down, planted cash on his desk to trap Lamyai Dobson after sums of money had gone missing.

Dobson, 40, of Dalacres Crescent, Embsay, near Skipton, was convicted on Friday of five charges of stealing from the householder, who lives in a village in the Skipton area.

She took more than £700 cash in less than a fortnight in November last year, along with valuable cufflinks from the man's bedside table.

Prosecutor Rebecca Young told the court that the man had three long term carers when Dobson, a Thai national who was assisted by an interpreter during the trial, joined the team in late October, 2014.

Miss Young said her victim was paralysed from the neck down after a road accident 13 years ago.

He suffered a broken neck and had limited movement in his arms but was wheelchair bound.

Miss Young said Dobson did her first morning shift at the property unsupervised on November 6.

Ten days later, the man suspected that £555 had been stolen from two locations at his address so he planted £35 in notes and coins on his desk and took photos of it.

After Dobson's early shift the next day, the money was gone. He challenged Dobson and told her to leave the house and never come back.

He then checked his car, where he kept petrol money, and £115 was missing. He went upstairs and spotted that the cufflinks were also gone.

When the police were called, Dobson completely fabricated a story that the man had made sexual advances to her, Miss Young said.

She was found guilty of stealing £555 on November 16, £35 the following day and £115 and the cufflinks between November 5 and 18.

Dobson was rebailed to be sentenced on December 18.