A Watford woman who pocketed her late mother's estate instead of sharing it with her four brothers and sisters was told by a judge yesterday (Thursday) that she was "greedy and dishonest".

Alexis Lowe, 40, should have divided up Dorothy Bunce's £112,000 estate when she died without making a will, but kept it all for herself.

She had claimed she was entitled to some of the money because she had carried out gardening work for her mother at the rate of £15 an hour and cleaning for her at £10 an hour.

There was to be a short trial for a judge at St Albans crown court to determine if she had been entitled to an extra share, but yesterday Lowe of Coates Way, Watford, abandoned the claim.

She pleaded guilty to theft between November 11, 2011, and January 8 this year, accepting that she should have divided the estate five ways.

Prosecutor Davina Mootien said that £30,500 had been restrained by the police in Lowe's accounts and asked for a compensation order to be made to the other four relatives.

Defending, Susan Meek said Lowe was of previous good character. She said Lowe had made a clean breast of the offence and said she was able to carry out unpaid work.

Judge John Plumstead said: "If a person makes a will they settle their intentions. In this case there was no will and the law then takes over. The estate should have been divided equally. 

"The defendant persuaded herself that she was right in doing what she did. It smacks of greed and dishonesty.

"If her mother had wished her to receive a different share a note written on the back of an envelope would have achieved this. This was a theft in breach of a high degree of trust. She convinced herself she was entitled to the money. It was delusional."

The judge passed an eight month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered her to carry out 120 hours' unpaid work. 

He ruled that the £30,500 seized is distributed among the four other brothers and sisters.

He told her: "You are a dishonest woman. You couldn't resist helping yourself to the lion's share. Please go and don't come back. 

"If your family choose I think they will have an unstoppable claim against you in the civil courts."