A MAN nominated for an award for his work with the disabled swindled hundreds of pounds out of a wheelchair-bound woman.

Lou Brown convinced Jennifer Endicott she was having a relationship with him and persuaded her to part with almost £500 for his mother's funeral, a court heard.

He promised he would return the cash - which came out her benefit money - but never did.

Magistrates jailed Brown, of Avon Road, Tolladine, yesterday for four months.

He was short-listed for an Unsung Hero award last year for helping disabled people.

He was set to be guest of honour at a special Christmas carol service at County Hall last December and be presented with a special porcelain plate.

But Worcestershire County Council received complaints about the 51-year-old after short-listing him and blocked his application, a spokesman revealed today.

Steve Walmsley, prosecuting at Droitwich Magistrates' Court yesterday, said that Brown tricked wheelchair-bound Ms Endicott into believing that they were in a relationship, giving him easy access to her money.

But her father and staff at the Henwick Grange Nursing Home, in Hallow Road, Worcester - where she lives - became suspicious of his intentions.

"It soon became apparent to her father and staff the only time he appeared was when she was about to get her monthly cash payment of about £300," Mr Walmsley said.

"On one occasion, she gave him £200 and her bank book to pay into her bank, but he never did.

"Then, on another occasion, he told her his mother had died and he'd been left with the funeral bills.

"She gave him £475 on the understanding he paid her back, but he never did. When he was challenged by the victim's father, the defendant arranged for the money and cash book to be collected.

"But he was never there when the father went around to collect it," he added.

Brown, who initially denied the allegations, admitted two counts of theft between January, 1999, and January, 2000.

Marcus Steen, defending, told magistrates his client had saved £200 to pay Ms Endicott back and wanted to pay compensation.

In addition to the prison sentence, Brown was ordered to pay £675 in compensation, £200 of which had to be immediate on his release.