A SIXTY-seven-year-old woman has admitted defrauding a Workington pensioner out of more than £75,000.

Phyllis Woods, who met her victim on a dating website, pleaded guilty to four offences when she appeared before Carlisle Crown Court today.

They included a fraud whereby she borrowed £69,000 from the 71-year-old victim, fraudulently promising that she would pay him back the cash from money that said was owed to her.

The first allegation she admitted related to borrowing £6,000 from the pensioner in January, 2017.

She admitted a similar offence, involving £340, on June 12, 2018 while she committed the offence which involved the £69,000 between December and June, 2018.

The final offence Woods admitted was the theft of a wrist watch and a gold pocket watch between October, 2017, and July the following year.

The defendant entered not guilty pleas to two further alleged offences: stealing seven lady's watches and fraudulently borrowing £10,500.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke told Judge Nicholas Barker that the defendant's pleas were acceptable to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Judge Barker adjourned the case until January 10 next year so that background reports can be prepared.

He told the defendant, from Croft Road, Bolton: "You have to understand that a fraud of this sustained nature, and of this amount, and in the circumstances in which it was committed, is likely to attract a custodial sentence and the court will have that in mind very seriously."

He warned Woods to use the time she will have between now and her day of sentence to prepare for jail.

The defendant was granted bail until she is back before the court.