A FATHER-of-six has been cleared of a £1,380 raid on a disabled pensioner's home after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

Eamon McGrath, 41, claimed he lent his van to the burglar but refused to name him after telephoned threats.

Victim Austin Webster - who has since died - was visited by two men to fix roof tiles at his home in Bruce Road, Kidderminster. He later found his savings missing.

The defendant insisted the van had been borrowed and returned to his home in Haslucks Green Road, Birmingham, on December 19 last year. He denied burglary.

The Worcester Crown Court jury failed to reach a verdict after deliberating for three hours. Prosecutor Gareth Walters offered no further evidence.

Judge Thomas Dillon QC entered a not guilty verdict.

The prosecution had alleged that Mr McGrath was one of two men who visited the 72-year-old victim. Mr McGrath confessed that he had lied to police and failed to tell them about lending his van to a local builder.

But he maintained he was beaten up and warned about the consequences of being a grass by the real burglar.