A FORMER market trader from Burnley has walked free from court after being cleared of all criminal charges relating to £20,000 involving her ex-partner.

Sonja Marie Ashcroft, 75, was originally charged with the theft of £18,000 from her former partner Bernard Timperley.

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Ashcroft had been running a bag stall at the Ellesmere Centre in Walkden, near Salford, before the allegations came to light. Mr Timperley was said to be housebound due to serious lung problems.

The charges were later amended to fraud and forgery involving a slightly larger sum, which Ashcroft denied and there was due to be a trial at Manchester Crown Court.

But prosecutor Robert Kearney said that it was not felt to be in the public interest to pursue the case, which related to allegations which first came to light in the summer of 2015.

"We now know that the money has been returned," said Mr Kearney, who also told the court that the pair had a "complicated financial relationship".

He said: "The complainant is a man in ill health who, even after just walking from one room to the next, requires three or four minutes of oxygen therapy.

"Then there is the defendant, who is 75 and a lady of previous good character."

The court heard that there had also been a dispute between the parties over the release of financial documents in the case.

Mr Kearney said it may be that the claims in the case could be pursued in a more appropriate forum in future, such as the civil courts.

No evidence was offered on the outstanding charges and not guilty verdicts were entered by trial judge Recorder Roger Lowe regarding Ashcroft, of Elgin Crescent, Burnley.

Earlier Mr Recorder Lowe said: "I am sure that the Crown has considered the public interest in this case and I have been told that the money has been repaid.

"It would seem that there is no obstacle and a pragmatic view of the case is to be welcomed."

Simon Gurney, defending, said his client, who had been accompanied to court by members of her family, was also "not in good health".