A HOME care assistant was never asked for references or proof of her qualifications when given work looking after an elderly widow, a court heard today.

Vanessa Ingham told Bradford Crown Court that there was also no request to see her Criminal Records Bureau check.

She was giving evidence in the trial of three carers accused of conspiring to defraud 92-year-old Audrey Hammond, between February 14, 2010, and September 25, 2012.

Lisa Bell, 30, of Greenside Lane, Cullingworth, her mother Wendy Bell, 57, also of Greenside Lane, and Helen Banks, 42, of Howbeck Avenue, Riddlesden, all deny the charge.

Wendy Bell pleads not guilty to two further fraud allegations.

The three women are accused of being involved in a plot to defraud wealthy Mrs Hammond, who is housebound and has Parkinson's disease, out of more than £500,000 by grossly inflating the cost of her private home care.

Amanda Carroll, 44, of Park Avenue, Shipley, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud Mrs Hammond and two charges of fraud.

Linda Mynott, 60, of Garforth Road, Keighley; Caron Gilbert, 33, of Red Holt Crescent, Keighley, and Alice Barker, 59, of Raglan Avenue, Keighley, have admitted the conspiracy offence.

Today, Mrs Ingham, a home care assistant for the elderly for 30 years, told the jury she worked at least two night shifts for Mrs Hammond in August, 2012.

She said she was given the work by Wendy Bell in a phone conversation.

She was not told that Mrs Hammond suffered with Parkinson's disease.

Mrs Ingham said she covered her first night shift with a carer who did not seem to know how to move Mrs Hammond correctly.

When the shift finished at 9am, she waited about 50 minutes for Lisa Bell to take over.

When she "eventually" arrived, she was dressed in a short skirt and high heeled shoes.

Mrs Ingham said she was paid £10 an hour while working at Ings House, Mrs Hammond's home in Cracoe, near Skipton.

She considered that to be good pay.

Defence barrister James Bourne-Arton accused Mrs Ingham of "trying to put the boot into Lisa Bell" by saying she wore high heels and a short skirt.

He suggested that it was very warm that day.

Prosecution barrister Stephen Wood asked Mrs Ingham: "Can you think of any reason why high heels might assist in regulating temperature?"

Mrs Ingham replied: "No."

The trial continues.