A WOMAN is facing the possibility of prison after a pensioner was tied up and attacked in his home by a gang who threatened him with boiling water.

Dramatic scenes unfolded at Chester Crown Court this week as Julie White pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal at the home of Richard Rowlands in Rocklee Gardens, Neston.

White, 25, of Northumberland Street, Liverpool, was originally charged with robbery and theft but the charges were discontinued after she pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal on Wednesday.

White's plea comes after her trial for robbery and theft was abandoned last month due to the poor health of Mr Rowlands who suffered a stroke after the July 6 attack.

The theft charge related to the dis-appearance of £200 from Mr Rowlands's home between February and July this year. White denied stealing £200 from Mr Rowlands's home, claiming it was given to her.

Opening White's trial last month, prosecutor Andrew Green told the jury how Mr Rowlands was tied up and threatened with boiling water and sharp implements after two men and White called at his home.

The men burst through the door with White and Mr Rowlands was pinned against a wall. He was then pushed into his living room and his hands were tied 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 the pensioner above his eye.

Mr Green said White had befriended Rowlands before the attack and had made regular visits to his home.

Giving evidence, Mr Rowlands said he enjoyed White's company and liked her coming around before the attack. He said she was good company because he 'had no one else'.

'She would have a look around and see money and say, 'can I have that?' and I was kind-hearted so I gave it to her,' he said.

When questioned about the nature of their relationship, Mr Rowlands admitted to paying her for sexual favours.

In cross examination, White's defence barrister Maria Masselis told Mr Rowlands: '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 also admitted to Miss Masselis he had asked White to marry him and she had said yes. He confirmed the total amount of money he had given to White was about £1,000.

Police launched a hunt for the gang after Richard Rowlands was attacked.

At the time, Detective Constable Richard Watts of Cheshire Constabulary said: 'The level of violence used against this vulnerable male, who lives alone, was horrendously excessive.

'It was a very traumatic incident for him. It was way over the top. The incident had a very dramatic effect on him.'

White will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court later this year.