A WOMAN has been cleared of stealing hundreds of pounds from a Hampshire pensioner on the day she died.

Former self-employed carer Tallulah Woodford visited Elsie Keene, 90, of Greenmead Avenue, Pennington, and found her dead in bed.

A few hours later she used one of Mrs Keene's bank cards to withdraw £300 from her Post Office account.

Ms Woodford, 36, of Whitaker Crescent, Pennington, was later charged with theft following an examination of the pensioner's accounts.

But she told Southampton Magistrates' Court that a member of Mrs Keene's family had given her permission to withdraw the money to cover her wages.

"I was told to bring the accounts up to date and I did," she said.

Wesley Potterton, defending, said his client had a close relationship with Mrs Keene and even bathed and dressed her after finding her dead on March 22 2017.

Ms Woodford, now working as a cleaner, denied theft and was found not guilty.