A 28-YEAR-OLD swindler who conned thousands of pounds from a vulnerable pensioner after saying he would marry her has been jailed for two years.

Over a three-year period Andrew Harding repeatedly took 72-year-old Brenda Nicholls’ weekly allowance from her and claimed that some of the cash was being put aside for their wedding fund.

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

Prosecutor Bronia Hartley said the pensioner was given a weekly allowance initially of £60 to £70 a week by social services.

She claimed to have been giving Harding £50 each Monday and Friday and said he told her half of the money was being saved for their wedding.

Following his arrest Harding, of Poplar View, Lightcliffe, said he had only been given up to £30 a week by the pensioner. He said he had no intention of marrying her and only said he would because he felt sorry for her.

Harding, who had no previous convictions and also suffers from learning difficulties, was found guilty following his trial of obtaining the money by deception.

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