A woman who admitted taking a loan out in the name of her elderly mother has been spared immediate imprisonment.

Michelle Hughes, 52, of Woodfield Avenue in Flint, changed her plea at Mold Crown Court last month and admitted she made false representation to Sainsbury’s Bank plc between February and March 2015 that her mother Muriel Hughes, 74, wished to take out a £10,000 personal loan.

Appearing for sentence, Judge Rhys Rowlands told Hughes it was “absolutely appalling behaviour” towards her own elderly mother and deliberate targeting of an elderly, vulnerable woman in poor health.

“In a nutshell you took advantage of your own elderly mother to take out a £10,000 loan in her name," Judge Rowlands told Hughes.

“She trusted you to help her with her financial affairs. She was not used to day-to- day finances and she suffered significant ill-health.

“You decided to take advantage of the situation and took out a loan which your mother knew absolutely nothing about.”

But the judge said he took into account that she was a woman of good character who was also in ill-health and whose ex-partner was her carer.

There had been a significant passage of time since the offence was committed and when it was first reported to the police, the judge said.

He imposed an 18 month prison sentence suspended for two years and she was subjected to six month tagged curfew to remain indoors between 9pm and 6am.

A five year restraining order was made under which she is not to approach her mother in any way and she must not visit her home.

The judge said he would not award compensation because the figures were unclear but the prosecution said Hughes might face civil proceedings from the bank.

The court heard victim Muriel Hughes said she had been left depressed and on sleeping tablets. She had nightmares over what had happened.

She said in a victim impact statement that she was “disgusted” at what her daughter had done and ashamed of her.

Barrister Sion ap Mihangel, prosecuting, said the victim had lived in Prince of Wales Avenue in Flint for more than 40 years and her late husband, who had been responsible for the family’s day-to-day finances, died in 2011.

It emerged that in 2015 a £10,000 loan had been taken out in her name with Sainsbury’s Bank without her knowledge.

She and her son visited the HSBC bank with her son and discovered what had gone on.

The defendant had previously been helping her with her shopping and had been made a signatory to the account.

But the prosecutor said the offence was a breach of the trust placed in her when she took out the loan without her mother’s knowledge.

A total of £3,000 had been paid in monthly repayments.

Henry Hills, defending, said Hughes had paid money into the account to cover the repayments.

She was a woman of good character.

Hughes, he said, had been in a good and caring relationship with her mother.

His client suffered ill-health and had recently undergone surgery, he said.