A MAN picked up by a taxi after allegedly murdering an 85-year-old grandmother and setting fire to her home seemed anxious and distressed, a court heard.

Taxi driver Mohammed Hanif collected the man, who had booked a car under the name of “Steven”, from the home of Patricia Thompson, in Emma Simpson Court, Hartburn, Stockton, shortly after 11pm on September 5 last year.

Mrs Thompson was later found dead in her bed by fire officers. She had been strangled.

Many of her personal possessions, including her wedding ring, which family and friends said she never took off, were missing.

Steven Hodgson, of no fixed address, denies murder and burglary on September 5 . He is on trial at Teesside Crown Court. The court heard the man had used Mrs Thompson’s home telephone to call for a taxi and, when it arrived, put two suitcases in the boot of the vehicle before returning to the house for about five minutes.

Mr Hanif told the court yesterday: “I didn’t have any concerns that he was gone so long, but once he got in my car he was distressed and looked like he had been in an argument with somebody.

“I did ask him and I asked if he was moving out because he had two suitcases with him, but he said he did not want to talk.”

The man originally asked to go to Normanby, in Middlesbrough, but changed his mind during the journey and directed the driver to South Bank. It was here the man took his suitcases and walked off in the direction of a nearby park.

One of Mrs Thompson’s neighbours, Ian Speirs Russell, called 999 after hearing her smoke alarm.

Fire officers found Mrs Thompson dead on her bed after forcing entry into the burning building.

Forensic investigations revealed there were two separate sources of fire – the pensioner’s bed and another on a sofa in the living room.

Forensic scientist Paul Swainson said he believed a search of the property had taken place prior to the blaze, as there were items all over the floor.

“In my opinion the fire within the bungalow has been started with the deliberate ignition of a naked flame,” he told the jury.

Mr Hodgson claims he did steal cards, cash, financial documents and jewellery from the house, but on the previous night. He also claims that DNA found under the pensioner’s fingernails was due to her playfully ruffling his hair when he asked her if she needed a window cleaner.

However, the churchgoer’s neighbours who spoke to her the following day said she was an immaculate person who would have told them if she had been burgled.

The trial continues.