But rather than help the pensioner, now aged 74, Miller emptied her bank account and spent the victim’s money on holidays and designer clothes, forcing her to carry out chores and beg on the streets. She also became sole trustee in her will and tried to persuade the woman to sell a property she owned. Miller befriended the pensioner, who has learning difficulties, after she started volunteering at the cat orphanage that she ran. 

Snaresbrook Crown Court in London heard that the victim, who cannot be named, did not realise she was being exploited, despite regularly being locked out of the house at night and forced to sleep in the garden. 

Jurors were told that often the woman became so hungry she resorted to eating cat and dog food. 

Miller also forced her to weed the garden and clear out animal shelters at night in exchange for meals or being allowed back inside the house. 

The exploitation came to light after the pensioner ran away for the third time in June 2016 and asked a friend for help. The friend then contacted social services. 

Miller, of Chingford, east London, denied two counts of holding another in slavery and servitude and one count of theft, but was found guilty. 

She was also cleared on one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm. 

Richard Heatley, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said it was “an appalling case of modern slavery”. 

He added: “The victim thought she was helping her friend with chores and charity work but in actual fact she was being exploited in the most appalling way. 

“Modern slavery has a devastating impact on its victims. The CPS is working in partnership with the police and other criminal justice partners to build robust cases and deliver justice for victims.” 

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