A PENSIONER was threatened with a kettle of boiling water after he was tied up and attacked by robbers.

And the gang was led by a young woman he had asked to marry, a court was told.

Richard Rowlands, 67, was subjected to the horrific ordeal when the men were brought around to his house by the 25-year-old woman, a court heard.

Mr Rowlands had met the woman while shopping in Neston in February and since then she paid regular visits to the house and he gave her money.

Julie White, of Northumberland Street, Liverpool, is accused of robbery on July 6 this year with others unknown and theft between February and July this year of £200.

Andrew Green, prosecuting, told the court how the men burst through the door with White and pinned Mr Rowlands against the wall. They then pushed him into the living room and tied his hands with tape while White began searching the house for money.

One of the men took a scraping tool from the shed and threatened Mr Rowlands with it cutting him above the eye.

White is also accused of stealing £200 from Mr Rowlands of Rocklee Gardens, Little Neston, during one of her many visits to the house.

'This case is about the exploitation of a vulnerable and lonely old man,' Mr Green told the court. 'Earlier this year she spotted him in Neston and no doubt saw him as a target.

'She became a regular visitor at his home, what Mr Rowlands was getting was attention from a young female, but what she wanted was money to fund her drug habit.'

The court heard how White admitted a £300 a day drug habit and offered sexual favours for money.

'Over time he gave her money but she also helped herself,' added Mr Green. 'She was very friendly sometimes sitting on his knee and sometimes they would kiss and cuddle, then she would ask him for money.

'This defendant worked by getting him to pity her and working on his good nature.'

The attack took place on July 6 this year when White came round to the house. Seeing who it was Mr Rowlands opened the door to let her in.

'He opened the door and was faced with two males.

'They brought the kettle from the kitchen and held it above his head and threatened him with boiling water. The defendant searched his house and was seen going through his pockets.

'She told him she needed the money to pay the men so she wouldn't get hit.'

Mr Rowlands told the court that he enjoyed White's company and liked her coming around before the attack. He also admitted he had asked White to marry him and she had said yes.

Defending Maria Masselis said: 'She came to you to give you company and allow you to kiss her and allowed you to fondle her, you paid her money because she did that.' Mr Rowlands replied: 'Sometimes I did.'

He confirmed to Miss Masselis that overall the amount of money he had given her was about £1,000.

White denies stealing the £200 from Mr Rowlands' flat and says it was given to her. She admits her involvement in the attack but says she was forced into it in fear of her own personal safety.

The trial continues.