‘I would never do that to him’
A woman accused of burgling the home of a pensioner who allegedly died as a result of stress caused by the raid has told jurors she was "close" to the victim and "would never do that to him".
William Jackson, also known as Billy, passed away at the Sunderland Royal September after he was "deliberately targeted" by burglars, it is claimed.
Newcastle Crown Court has heard Mr Jackson, 71, suffered from pre-existing health problems and was found unconscious by his neighbour after the break-in.
He died in hospital the following morning.
David Bulmer, 20, of Bra ms ton Way, and Sarah Daniel ,33, of Waterloo Walk, both Washington, both deny manslaughter and are being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.
Leanne English, 39, also of Waterloo Walk, denies conspiracy to commit burglary against Mr Jackson.
Prosecutor Jamie Hill QC has told jurors it is accepted only Bulmer and Daniel entered Mr Jackson' s home but English was involved in the planning process and aftermath, therefore was part of the burglary but not the manslaughter.
Giving evidence yesterday, Daniel told jurors she got on "very well" with Mr Jackson.
She told jurors she was a drug addict who would shop lift to make money and Mr Jackson would sometimes buy stolen goods from her.
Daniel told the court :" I was close with him, if I was having a bad day he would help me if I needed help.
"Once or twice he would talk me out of going shoplifting and just help me out.
"He would help me with money and if he didn't have money he would give me tabs or baccy to sell on."
Daniel said on September 24 last year she had been out shop lifting at Marks andSpencer, Home Bargains and Wilko.
She told jurors she had gone to Mr Jackson's home to see if he wanted to buy anything and he asked her to return later that night.
Daniel said she, herpartner English and pal' Davey' had then bought some 'crack' and taken it at her home.
The trio went back to Mr Jackson's house later.
She told jurors Bulmer went up to Mr Jackson's door with her, while English stayed out in the street.
Daniel said they went into Mr Jackson's kitchen and she put a bag of stolen good son the kitchen table so he could have a look at what she had.
She added: "He said he didn' t have money but he could pay in tabs and baccy."
Daniel said Bulmer "grabbed" a bag of' tabs and baccy' belonging to Mr Jackson.
Daniel said she ripped the bag back out of Bulmer's hand and put it down and added: "I told Bill I was sorry and would come back later."
She told jurors it was only after they left the house and were chased away by Mr Jackson's neighbour that she realised Bulmer still had the bag belonging to Mr Jackson in his hand.
Daniel denied there was any intention to rob or burgle Mr Jackson and added: "I would never do that to him".
Daniel and Bulm er also deny conspiracy to commitburglary and a count of aggravated burglary relating to a separate incident against a different victim, Barry Clark.
Daniel is also charged with two counts of fraud by false representation and English is accused of common assault against Mr Clark, which they all deny.
The trial continues.