A love cheat, 28, in prison for swindling a 72-year-old widow out of her pension money by pretending they were to marry has been ordered to pay her more than £4,000 compensation.

Andrew Harding, who is serving a two-year prison stretch, was brought back to Bradford Crown Court for a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Harding, of Poplar View, Lightcliffe, Brighouse, was locked up in December after tricking Brenda Nicholls into handing over cash for a wedding he repeatedly postponed.

Barrister Chris Smith, for the Crown, told the court yesterday Harding’s agreed benefit from his crime was at least £7,000.

His available assets of £4,618, from various bank and savings accounts, were forfeit to be paid to Mrs Nicholls, who has since married a different suitor.

A confiscation order in that amount was made by Judge Peter Benson who said if Harding did not pay he would stay in jail for three extra months.

Mr Smith asked the court to ensure the sum was paid to Mrs Nicholls’ finance support officer at Calderdale Social Services department.

Harding was convicted of swindling Mrs Nicholls by a jury in November last year.

She told the court she believed they were in a relationship and that he was saving her pension money for a June wedding.

Jailing Harding, Judge Alistair McCallum branded it a cruel deception on a vulnerable pensioner with learning difficulties. The jury was told that Mrs Nicholls, who lives in sheltered housing, had a level of understanding below that of a ten-year-old child.

She had problems handling money and was given an allowance by Social Services.

“You raised her hopes of romance in her twilight years,” the judge told Harding.

Police were alerted to the fraud by Mrs Nicholls’ support worker, Richard Walker.

She told him she was going to marry Harding and was handing over money for their wedding. Mr Walker said her cupboards were bare and she was neglecting her appearance.