A VULNERABLE, elderly and blind World War 11 hero was swindled out of his life savings by a Cradley Heath couple who likened themselves to Bonnie and Clyde, a court has heard.

It is alleged the pair carried out the "well planned, extremely determined and prolonged abuse" of the disabled 93-year-old who was persuaded to sign a cheque to buy them a £188,000 three bedroomed house.

Mark Jackson, prosecuting, said Veronica Robinson started cleaning for the widower and then "slowly but surely" isolated him from his network of friends and family.

He said: "She did not behave like a proper carer would have done, it was a role that she took on solely to be in a position to exercise the necessary power, control and influence over him in order to be able to control his financial affairs."

Mr Jackson said Robinson, assisted by her partner Robert Homer, then "systematically abused her position of trust so that she could defraud the man out of what amounted to hundreds of thousands of pounds."

The lengths the pair went to to maintain access and control of the man and "more importantly his finances," demonstrated the "well planned, extremely determined and prolonged abuse of a very vulnerable and disabled man in his own home."

Mr Jackson said Homer may have started in a subsidiary role but he soon participated in what the prosecution said was a "grooming process."

The victim who during his working life was awarded the MBE for his services to industry had been registered blind and he was suffering from the onset of dementia, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

He had many friends in the Halesowen area who cared for him and supported him and when he decided he needed a cleaner one of his neighbours suggested Robinson who advertised her services in the local press.

Then, after Robinson and Homer became involved with the pensioner he became almost completely isolated from his friends and his relationship with his family became strained.

It appeared that he became convinced he was completely dependent on Robinson almost to the point of being "besotted" by her and he spent thousands of pounds on her, on her son and on Homer.

Mr Jackson added: "They effectively took control of his finances and of his spending and Robinson, assisted by Homer set about stripping him of his life savings."

Many people who knew the widower became concerned about the situation and after police were notified Dudley's Trading Standards department began an investigation.

By then the man had given Robinson a cheque for £188,000 to buy herself a house and the prosecution alleged Mr Jackson, say that showed the victim had been easy prey for Robinson and Homer to "manipulate and groom."

Robinson, aged 61, and 66-year-old Homer, both of High Haden Road, have pleaded not guilty to fraud, she has further denied a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Mr Jackson said a friend of the victim was told Robinson took him to the bank on trips he called the "Bonnie and Clyde" run.

When the man asked how much money was in his account Robinson would then write a cheque.

The trial of the pair - scheduled to last for up to four weeks - is continuing.