A RETIRED police officer who plundered his elderly sister-in-law's bank account to lavish gifts on a woman he was besotted with, is today behind bars.

Howard Ward, aged 77, stole £20,000 from 86-year-old Lily Turner to buy presents for a great-grandmother he met through a newspaper lonely hearts column.

The cash was removed over several years to buy clothing, furnishings, jewellery, a £1,199 television, crystal glasses and ornaments for 68-year-old Brenda Cartner, the woman he fell head over heels in love with.

Ward of Ashbank Avenue, Ladybridge, had the power of attorney over his sister-in-law's bank account. He helped the elderly spinster with her shopping and housework-- and also helped himself to her life-savings.

Ward became close to his sister-in-law after the death of his wife in 1989. His world came crashing down, though, when other members of his family decided to renovate Lily's home in Glenluce Walk, Ladbridge. They hoped to finance the work with her £30,000 life-savings, but were shocked to discover only £6,500 was left in her account. The police were then contacted by Ward's son who lives in Rochdale.

The former army officer, who served as policeman with Salford City Police for 12 years, admitted the offence when questioned by detectives.

And today, as he was starting a six month jail term, his "girlfriend" Brenda Cartner, stormed: "The sentence is not long enough. What he did to such a lovely woman is evil.

"I had my suspicions about him because he was always spending money on me. He was obsessed. But he wouldn't let me end the friendship."

She added: "When the police told me what he had done I wanted to get my hands on him and strangle the bastard."

Today the sister who lost everything to the brother-in-law she trusted is in a care home, now too sick to realise the betrayal.

Ward, who has vowed to repay the money he stole, collapsed in the dock when his prison term was announced.

The decision to jail him also shocked his defence team who are now to launch an appeal against his conviction to the High Court in London DEVASTATED Brenda Cartner says she curses the day she placed an advert for a companion in a local newspaper.

She was looking for friendship. And when widower Harold Ward contacted her she says she was instantly swept off her feet.

Former police officer Ward was immaculately dressed with distinguished silver grey hair.

He lavished gifts upon her, wined and dined her and constantly proposed.

But little did she know that behind the polished facade lay a callous conman who was financing his lavish lifestyle by stealing his vulnerable 86-year-old sister-in-law's life-savings.

Today Ward is in Manchester's Strangeways Prison serving a six month jail term and his plush bungalow home in Bolton is up for sale.

Brenda, who lives in a modest two-bedroomed modern terraced home in Chorley -- partly funded by Ward -- says she has been left devastated.

She said: " The sentence is not long enough. I always had my doubts about him but never in my wildest dreams did I think he would stoop so low. "He was good to me. I can't deny that. He called it love but to me he was obsessed.

"I tried to end the relationship but he threatened suicide.

"I only wanted a friend but he just wanted to possess me, He could not understand why I did not love him when everyone else did.

"When I argued with him he cried. He acted like an eight-year-old child."

She said she wished she had never placed the newspaper advert for a companion.

"I think he really did care for me but he totally overpowered me and tried to buy my affection. Now I find that he was trying to do that with Lily's money, not his own.

"I have never slept a wink since the police broke the news to me."

She added: "Now I desperatly want to apologise to Lily. I met her on half a dozen occasions and she was a pleasant lovely woman who, tragically for her, loved Harold to death."

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