A WOMAN accused of neglecting her mentally ill mother until she died in squalor said she would have ‘never done anything to harm her’, a court heard.

Taking the stand, Emma-Jane Kurtz, 41, clutched a rugby shaped stress ball as she told the court how her mother, Cecily, had suffered from debilitating depression in the decade leading up to her death on July, 2, 2014.

She described how Cecily, who had once been obsessed with cleaning and household chores, moved in to the sitting room of their house in Blackwater Way, Didcot and stopped going out, caring about her appearance or bathing.

Kurtz said she had checked on her mother every day before leaving for work and regularly cooked for her in the evening.

She said she was aware her mother was experiencing problems with incontinence and had attempted to help but said ‘she would never tell me if something was wrong.’

Cecily had also refused to allow builders inside to fix various problems, according to Kurtz, who described the house she also shared with her ill father as ‘awful’ and a place where ‘no one enjoyed living’.

When asked if she loved her mother Kurtz told the jury at Oxford Crown Court: “Of course, my mother was the most important person in my life.

“We spent so much time together, we always knew what each other were thinking.

“I was closer to her than anyone.

“Of course I cared, she just kept saying no.”

Kurtz denies one count of wilful neglect by the donee of the enduring power of attorney.

The case continues.