Prison for widow's 'wedding fund' cheat

Over a three-year period Andrew Harding, 28, repeatedly took 72-year-old Brenda Nicholls's weekly allowance from her and claimed some of the cash was beingput aside for their "wedding fund".

The Hebden Bridge widow, who was under the care of Calderdale Social Services and lived in sheltered accommodation, made regular bus trips to meet Harding, but their relationship came to light after her support worker noticed a deterioration in Mrs Nicholls's

appearance and living standards.

During a trial last month it was suggested that Harding may have obtained up to 15,000 from the pensioner by deception, but that figure was disputed by his barrister and yesterday Judge Alistair McCallum estimated the cash taken amounted to about 7,000.

Judge McCallum told Harding: "The deception itself was especially cruel.

"You raised her hopes of romance in her twilight years by pretending that you were going to marry her and you were paying the money that you were extracting from her into a wedding fund. It was a complete lie."

Bradford Crown Court heard that Mrs Nicholls suffered from a mild learning disability and her level of understanding was below that of a 10-year-old child.

After her support worker learned of her relationship with Harding he noticed a deterioration in her outward appearance and when he visited her home he found there was no food in her cupboards.

Harding, of Poplar View, Lightcliffe, also suffers from learning difficulties.

He was found guilty following a trial of obtaining the money by deception.

Barrister Gerald Hendron highlighted his client's own limited intelligence.

The prosecution will be seeking a confiscation order against Harding in the hope of recovering compensation for Mrs Nicholls.