Well-wishers cheered on Monday as a woman who helped her mother to die walked free from court.

Gillian Jennison admitted giving sleeping tablets to her mother Annie Wilks who was suffering from confusion and desperately wanted to die.

Jennison, 52, of Alma Terrace, Morton, was sentenced to 12 months' probation after the judge said there was no hint of any 'ulterior motive'.

She had initially been charged with murder but that was withdrawn. Instead she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aiding and abetting suicide or procuring the suicide of her mother.

James Goss, prosecuting, said Jennison was a 'loving and devoted' daughter who had only carried out her mother's wishes. He said 83-year-old Annie Wilks enjoyed a loving relationship with her daughter but suffered confusion and no longer wanted to live.

Between July 18 and 19 last year the two drank sherry and Annie asked for tablets, which Jennison gave her. She took around 23 tablets, two or three at a time.

Jennison placed a pillow over her sleeping mother's face and ascertained that she was dead a couple of minutes later. "She put the pillow over her when she was still breathing but unconscious," said Mr Goss.

"Her mother desperately wanted to die. It was the way her mother asked her that made her honestly feel that not to go along with her wishes would have been very cruel. She didn't consider the consequences. She just wanted to help her mother."

Michael Harrison QC, defending, said: "Jennison had the courage to be absolutely candid about what she had done. From the very start she had in her own mind assisted her mother's suicide. She was always willing to plead guilty to that."

Mrs Justice Smith told her: "I accept that what you did was what your mother wanted and there was never any hint of an ulterior motive. I think that in yours and the public interest there should be a probation order of 12 months.

"I have taken into account the strain and stress of the last few months while you have been facing a charge of murder. You are not in the best of health at the present time and because of recent events you are unable to work."

Following sentencing, Jenn-ison - who is a trade union studies lecturer at Bradford University - left court to the delight of tearful well-wishers and family who hugged one another.

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