Steven James Hodgson admits burgling Patricia Thompson’s bungalow

Steven James Hodgson admits burgling Patricia Thompson’s bungalow in Emma Simpson Court, Hartburn, near Stockton, on September 4, last year.

The 33-year-old, of no fixed address, said he chose the pensioner’s home to burgle after he spent the day in the leafy suburb looking for a suitable house to raid to fund his drug habit.

Mrs Thompson was strangled before her home was burgled and set on fire.

However, Hodgson denies murder and burglary on September 5, last year.

The court heard how Hodgson, who has eight previous convictions for burglary and one for robbery, said he came across Mrs Thompson during the day while he was wandering around.

Hodgson told the jury at Teesside Crown Court yesterday: “If I ever came into contact with anyone while I was looking, I would make the excuse that I was looking for a window cleaning round.

“She accepted and I cleaned her windows and cleared her path. She was very nice.”

He said it took about 40 minutes and that he said she paid him £7.

Hodgson said he returned to Mrs Thompson’s property at about 10.45pm.

He said he hid while a taxi dropped off Mrs Thompson’s neighbours before he watched the grandmother use her bathroom and then sit at her kitchen table.

He said he then went in through an open bathroom window and went into her living room and bedroom to steal items.

He said: “It was an easy target, but I did not pick it out before I went to Hartburn.

“I did not murder her. I am not a murderer. I burgled her, but I did not kill her.”

Hodgson admits stealing money, credit cards, financial documents and jewellery from Mrs Thompson’s property.

He said Mrs Thompson did not see him because he was quiet and that he hid the items in two of her bags, which he placed under his coat before he left through the front door.

The court heard how Hodgson was stopped by police walking along the A66 at the Hartington junction, Middlesbrough, 40 minutes after he said he burgled the property, six miles away.

Hodgson, who said he could not get a taxi, said he still had the stolen goods with him, but police said he did not have anything with him.

Graham Reeds QC, prosecuting, branded Hodgson’s story as “nonsense and lies”.

He put it to him that he burgled the property the following night and that he was the man who ordered a taxi to South Bank from Mrs Thompson’s home under the name of Steven, matching his description.

Hodgson said he did not know what happened on September 5.

Items matching those belonging to Mrs Thompson, including financial documents, the metal logo of a handbag and religious pendants, were found at Hodgson’s property.

A mobile phone was recovered from a drain outside his former home, in Ann Street, having been put there by Hodgson.

Hodgson admits using one of Mrs Thompson’s cash cards to withdraw money from a Barclays Bank cash machine in Eston, and to obtain cashback from Asda, in South Bank, in the early hours of September 7 .

Traces of his DNA was found under Mrs Thompson’s fingernails, which he said must have got there after she playfully ruffled his hair when he cleaned her windows.

Hodgson only provided his defence in February once he had received most of the prosecution evidence.

He said he was following legal advice by offering no response to all questions put to him by police in earlier interviews.

The trial continues.