TWO brothers accused of robbing a terrified old lady in her home in the early hours have been cleared -- but a judge has urged police to consider investigating their whole family for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Recorder Robert Platts made his comments after the crown had offered no evidence against Dean Taylor, 23, and his younger brother, Stephen, 20, at Burnley Crown Court.

The move came after the defendants' brother Carl, one of twins called as a prosecution witness, had told a jury that a statement he made claiming Dean had asked him to join in a robbery was made up, and that police had told him they would charge him if he did not help them.

Dean and Stephen Taylor, now of Inkerman Street, Bacup, but at the time of the alleged offence last December living in Accrington "around the corner" from the 82-year-old alleged victim, were found not guilty of robbery by the jury on the judge's direction. They denied the allegation.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said the Crown was in a position where it could prove money from the pensioner was found in certain locations with which the dedendants had some connection, but that did not mean they were party to the robbery.

The prosecution was not in a position to satisfy the jury so that they could be sure that the brothers were the robbers. Mr Lamberty had told the jury the victim had been asleep at her home in Wilfred Street, Accrington, when a masked man jumped on her and put his hand over her mouth and throat.

A second man ransacked her bedroom and around £1,500 was taken. Eventually, the duo left, leaving the woman frightened and shaking. She later got dressed and went to the police station.

After her ordeal, the woman was very upset and had since been living in sheltered accommodation.

The police later arrested the Taylor brothers and at a house of one of the defendants' brothers, £1,000, bundled up with string, was later found in the S-bend in the toilet.

Another £370 was also allegedly found at a nearby address with which Stephen Taylor had an association.

Carl Taylor had told the court he had told the Crown Prosecution Service and two solicitors that a statement in his name was not true.

It was not correct Dean told him the old lady would be loaded, was only small or had asked him to join in a robbery.

He claimed the police had put words into his mouth but he had signed the statement even though it was made up.