Crooks moonlighting as carers "systematically and mercilessly" stole around £184,000 from a trusting 96-year-old man.
Through "sheer greed and avarice", the devious married couple planned to drain the pensioners money to spend it on designer clothes, aftershave, watches and cash withdrawals over a lengthy period, Hull Live reports.
The pensioner was left distressed and heartbroken, he later died following the "emotional blackmail" the pair used on him for the cruel thefts.
A court was told he was a kindly, gentle person and a "true gentleman".
Steven Kantecki, 44, and his wife, Sarah Kantecki, 39, denied theft at Bridlington between April 1, 2019 and September 8 last year, however, they were convicted by a jury at Hull Crown Court following a trial.
Sarah Kantecki was also convicted of perverting the course of justice by writing a letter to the victim asking him to drop the case.
Adam Walker, prosecuting, said the couple breached a high level of trust in them through being carers for the victim.
They deliberately targeted a vulnerable man of 96, who was in failing health, had mobility problems and was hard of hearing.
The total amount of money stolen was between £181,000 and £184,000 and the couple "virtually emptied" his savings, including from an ISA and other bank accounts.
He was left with no other assets, apart from his home.
His grandson later said in a statement that the pensioner trusted the carers.
"People he thought were his friends had stolen all this money," said Mr Walker.
"He had been completely self-sufficient prior to that."
The victim's granddaughter said the victim had been left with a "feeling of betrayal" after the thefts and he suffered anxiety and pain.
"It was heartbreaking to see such concern and distress," she said.
"His life was turned upside down. The security he had worked so hard for in his life had gone.
"He would sit with his head in his hands."
The pensioner was prescribed diazepam but he had previously been a man who had enjoyed good health in his 90s.
He died in November, several months after the thefts, aged 96.
Recorder Ian Mullarkey said that the victim, a former soldier, was a gentle-natured person and had been described as a "lovely man" and was a "true gentleman".
He told the pair: "He depended on you both because of limited mobility to provide a variety of care, including personal care, for him."
The arrangement worked quite well for a time but they increasingly failed to do so and neglected him, while stealing cash from him.
"You exploited his kindly nature to systematically and mercilessly steal very substantial sums - almost all his life savings over a lengthy period," said Recorder Mullarkey.
"You were both driven by sheer greed and avarice."
They used "emotional blackmail" and, when the thefts came to light, Sarah Kantecki wrote a letter to the pensioner in an attempt to persuade him to drop the allegations.
But it was intercepted by a neighbour.
"You desperately attempted to evade detection for what you had done," said Recorder Mullarkey.
"You simply stole every penny you could from him.
"He sat with his head in his hands and said: 'It's a b*gger'. He never really fully recovered from what happened.
"He was deliberately exploited by those he thought he could trust.
"He had a feeling of betrayal and the last few months of his life were extremely unhappy because of what you did.
"You both continue to deny the offences. There has been no hint of remorse."
Steven Kantecki even tried to pretend that he had been set-up by the victim's family but he chose not to give evidence at his trial.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said it was a very serious offence but Steven Kantecki had only limited convictions and his wife had none.
He had worked in the care sector for 26 years and she had worked all her adult life as a carer in different settings, including becoming a manager.
Her husband became the carer for the pensioner and she helped.
The couple, of Ramshill Road, Scarborough, were each jailed for four years and nine months.
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