A 90-year-old widow tricked into handing over her wedding ring “wanted to clout” the alleged conman who took it, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Joan Cottam was giving evidence in a conspiracy-to-burgle trial by video link from her home in Embsay, near Skipton.

The pensioner, who has mobility and memory problems, struggled to fully recall what happened when a man called round saying the roof wanted fixing.

The jury had earlier been told she lost more than £11,000 by issuing cheques for work on her home.

She said a man called round about the roof, accompanied by his wife who he told her cleaned rings.

Mrs Cottam recalled taking off her wedding, engagement and eternity rings and giving them to the man.

She told officers she was feeling “pretty grim” about what had happened to her.

“I could scream you know,” she said, adding that she wanted to clout the man who took her rings.

Stewart Marshall, 44, of Mayfield Rise, Wyke, Bradford, and Len Lawrence, 49, of Bush Hill Fold, Queensbury, Bradford, deny conspiracy to burgle.

They are accused of offering to help at the home of frail and vulnerable people in order to steal from them.

Marshall and his daughter, Paige Marshall, 20, also of Mayfield Rise, plead not guilty to converting criminal property. Emma Croasdell, 38, of the same address, denies arranging to control criminal property for Stewart Marshall.

The trial continues.