A woman stole £9000 from a pensioner she was caring for then told police she did it because she was going through the menopause.

Anne McConnell swiped the cash from the 80-year-old, who suffers from severe arthritis, while employed as her carer in Arran.

She is now facing jail for her conduct, which was branded "despicable" by a sheriff.

The details emerged on Wednesday when the 51-year-old appeared in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

McConnell, represented by defence solicitor Martin Duffy, pleaded guilty to stealing Janette Noteman's savings account card and £9000 from the account after striking a deal with prosecutors which saw the sum she stole reduced from £17900.

Procurator fiscal depute Claire McKeveny told sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane McConnell was employed as a private carer for Ms Noteman when she took the money from the pensioner's savings account.

She withdrew the money from Ms Noteman's account over a six month-period between February and August last year after getting hold of her bank card and PIN.

The offence only came to light when McConnell left her role as Noteman's carer after three years in the job and the pensioner noticed £9000 missing from her account.

Ms McKeveny said: "She apologised and said her brother would pay the money back. She said she needed it to pay her mortgage and said she wasn't right in the head because of the menopause."

McConnell has two brothers, one of whom is former First Minister Jack McConnell. It was not said in court which brother she was referring to.

McKeveny said: "She left and went off on sick leave in April 2015. The now accused was responsible for the daily care of Ms Noteman.

"She has poor health and suffers from severe arthritis. During the period of the libel the now accused managed to obtain Ms Noteman's savings account card. It is not known how she managed to do that - it was not with the knowledge of the complainer."

McConnell used the card to lift £200 from a Bank of Scotland cash machine in Brodick, Arran. She then used the card a number of other times, taking a total of £9000 from the account.

Noteman noticed the money was missing when she saw a bank statement in August last year and her new carer cancelled the card.

Police were contacted and McConnell was pulled in for questioning, at which point she admitted what she had done.

Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane called for McConnell to be assessed by social workers ahead of sentencing and slammed her for her actions.

The sheriff said: "It's just as well I'm not going to sentence you today - it gives me a chance to cool down."

She described McConnell's offence as "despicable", prompting McConnell to say from the dock: "I'm sorry about it."

Sheriff McFarlane warned the first offender she faces jail and told her to return to court next month for sentencing after hearing she had made arrangements to pay the money back.

Prosecutors are trying to seize the money she stole and a proceeds of crime hearing is due to take place in March.

Following the case, a spokesperson for Jack McConnell said: "Jack McConnell is not involved in this court case in any way. He has never been asked to contribute to any payment and is not making any payment in relation to these proceedings."