Pensioner 'insisted on buying me £188,000 house', cleaner tells trial

Veronica Robinson said when interviewed by police after her arrest on suspicion of financially abusing him: "I told him 'no,' I would rather you have the house in your name. He said it had got to be in my name."

The 61-year-old, who is the only person listed on the deeds to the property, admitted she 'forgot' legal advice and did not get a witnessed and signed statement confirming that the cash used in the purchase was a present from him, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting, has alleged that the 61-year-old, who was supposed to earn £7.50 an hour, and her partner Robert Homer, 66, deliberately isolated the man from friends and family so that she could gain control of his money.

Robinson started to work for him in summer 2013 and paid his cheque covering the cost of the Beecher Street, Halesowen house into her account on November 3, 2014, five days after telling the estate agent she had £200,000 in the bank, the court heard.

Full details of his four HSBC accounts – in total more than £300,000 in credit – were later found by police in her bag, the court heard. The print out was dated October 22, the day before she was shown round the property by the estate agent.

Robinson, who had been living in rented accommodation, took possession of the house on January 6, 2015 and was arrested and interviewed less than three months later on March 27, said Mr Jackson, who read some of her comments to the court. She allegedly said during the interview: "He didn't like the house I was renting and thought it was dangerous. He said: 'I would like you to have a better house.' He was insistent. He said: 'Look, I have got the money. I want to buy you a house.' I said: No.'"

The defendant claimed that the man repeated this in front of a bank manager.

The defendant admitted being advised to get a letter witnessed and signed at a solicitor's office making clear that the man was handing over the money as a gift.

Robinson had not done that and explained the oversight as a 'lapse of memory,' said Mr Jackson who added: "She had plenty of opportunity to do this and knew it was important but it had slipped her mind."

It was claimed that she had accepted receiving a lot of money from the man after only being in his life for 18 months and conceded that she thought his purchase of the house for her had been 'excessive.'

The court has heard a claim that around £250,000 of the man's savings were spent after she started to work for him.

Robinson, of High Haden Road, Cradley Heath, denies fraud by abuse of position and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Robert Homer pleads not guilty to aiding, abetting the fraud and false representation.