Widow 'gave me her cash out of generosity'

Andrew Harding, 27, has denied taking up to 100 a week from 71-year-old Brenda Nicholls and he insisted yesterday the money he was given was used to top-up his phone.

The prosecution has alleged that over more than three years Harding obtained an estimated 15,000 from the pensioner on the pretext it was being saved in their "wedding fund".

Giving evidence at Bradford Crown Court, former supermarket worker Harding, of Poplar View, Lightcliffe, denied ever asking Mrs Nicholls for money and said she only gave him 30 every Monday for his phone.

"It's been said that you were engaged to be married to her," said Harding's barrister Gerald Hendron. "I was never engaged to be married to her," replied Harding.

The jury has heard that both Mrs Nicholls and Harding have learning difficulties and the defendant maintained it was the pensioner who had set a date for them to be married.

Harding claimed Mrs Nicholls told him in 2008 they would marry on June 12, 2012. The court has heard that Mrs Nicholls was under the care of social services and it was a support worker who contacted the police because of concerns about their relationship.

Prosecutor Chris Smith asked Harding if he was not worried about the pensioner giving him money every week and he replied: "No because I thought she was generous."

The jury heard that Mrs Nicholls was given a weekly allowance by social services because of difficulties with money, but Harding said every time he told her he didn't want the cash she got angry with him.

Harding has been unemployed since 2006 and Mr Smith suggested that he didn't really need a job because Mrs Nicholls was giving him money every week.

Harding has denied charges of obtaining property by deception and transferring criminal property. The trial continues.