A 'black widow' who married a man on his death bed and was jailed for two years for stealing his granddaughter's inheritance is now free after just six-months.

His family are still trying to claw back the cash and have vowed to keep on fighting after a Proceeds of Crime Act court case was adjourned this week.

Eldest daughter Nina Taylor said they were "optimistic" that the police would not "surrender" until the money was paid back.

Judith Brown, 55, wed Roy Mitchell, 66, just over a week before he died after a long illness in 2011, but he changed his will so she would be the main beneficiary and trustee. 

Of Mr Mitchell's £180,000 estate, £60,000 was supposed to be divided between his four grandchildren to be spent on their education - but the widow stole £15,000. Brown-Mitchell, as she became known after she married, was Mr Mitchell's carer as he battled bowel cancer in 2011. 

He changed his will at the end of August that year and the pair, who met in 2006, married days later - but the then terminally ill man's family were not invited and were only told of the marriage by text message. 

Mr Mitchell's family also had no idea his will had been changed in Mitchell-Brown's favour until he died. 

After his death on September 10, 2011, Brown-Mitchell, of Haverthwaite, should have handed over £60,000 for the children's education but refused to do so, Preston Crown Court heard in March. Eventually £45,000 of this was seized after a previous court hearing, but the rest of the inheritance - meant for the eldest granddaughter Charlotte Taylor aged 17 - was 'squandered', as well as a further £100,000 spent on 'shopping and entertaining herself'. 

Judge Howard Bentham criticised Brown-Mitchell for stealing £15,000 from a minor as he jailed her for two years. He said the defence of her actions was 'incredible' and said she had 'wilfully and deliberately' failed in her actions as a trustee. 

Brown-Mitchell, who fostered young offenders before being struck down with multiple sclerosis, pleaded guilty to the theft of £15,000 between September 2011 and October 2014. 

On Thursday (3) Brown-Mitchell appeared before the same court for a POCA  hearing to see if she had any assets or cash that could be seized.

Mr Mitchell's daughter Nina Taylor a 42-year-old  teaching assistant from Warrington, said that they thought Thursday's hearing would be the end of their nightmare but it was set to continue.

She added that although Brown-Mitchell had only served six months they felt she had been punished and now they just wanted the money back.

Mrs Taylor said: "It's been adjourned now until October 5 so further investigations could be carried out.

"She had spent her time in prison and we thought this was the final step and we could move on but its been like a slap in the face again.

"Now we will have to come back as the judge has asked for a full disclosure of assets and income.

"But, we will keep pushing until she pays back the money.

"We are optimistic that the police won't surrender."