Pair accused of stealing man's pension say they were acting in his best interests

Lee Renton and Mark McCarthy are said to have befriended the 79-year-and collected his pension when he was too unwell to leave his home.

The pair are alleged to have told him his payments had been reduced from between £120 and £140 a week to £21 - and to have kept the rest.

Prosecutors claim the vulnerable victim, who cannot read or write, was tricked into believing the 'Ministry of Pensions' had cut his money.

Mr McCarthy, of Etherley Close, and his nephew, Mr Renton, 29, of Carville Court, both in Stockton, each deny four charges of theft.

A jury of seven men and five women at Teesside Crown Court today (Thursday, July 30) heard details of the suspects' interviews after their arrest last year.

Mr McCarthy told police that pensioner had been a drinking pal until they fell out when he reported the elderly man to social services.

He said he became "wicked and evil" when his partner was taken into care, once assaulted him and was often violent and foul-mouthed.

Mr McCarthy said he could "count on one hand" the number of times he collected his pension, but said he ran errands "numerous times".

He said he had been like a carer, but was often met with resistance, with the elderly man telling him: "F*** off, I'll look after myself."

In his interview, he told police: "Sometimes, I would go to his bungalow nearly every day, until my mam took ill with cancer.

"I have never known Lee to keep any of the money. I would play hell. He knows that. I have seen him hand him the cash and his receipts."

Mr Renton was said to have done everything "above board", and his uncle told detectives: "That's on my mother's grave, that."

Three loans were also taken out from the Department for Work and Pensions, which Mr McCarthy accepts filling in for the alleged victim.

Both men deny telling the pensioner that the applications were rejected and keeping the money for themselves.

The trial continues.