A MAN is accused of fleecing his elderly neighbour out of £55,000 and turning her house into a drugs den.

Basildon Magistrates’ Court heard Barry Davis, 30, was taken in by his 77-year-old next door neighbour after his wife and child left him.

However it is alleged within weeks he started asking her for money and even pawned sentimental jewellery to pay for class A drugs.

Davis’ control over the pensioner meant he isolated her from friends and family and turned her once-pristine home into a drugs den for a London and Basildonbased drugs gang, magistrates heard.

Davis is charged with one count of fraud by false representation to the amount of £9,500, theft of £41,592 and blackmail to obtain £5,103.

He did not enter pleas to the charges and was remanded in custody to next appear at Basildon Crown Court on February 13.

The court heard the alleged fraud came to light when officers searched the Kent View Road home he shared with his victim after reports of a stabbing in woodland between the road and Basildon Golf Course, on November 7.

The court heard, inside the property, officers found notes and documents suggesting the elderly woman had transferred tens of thousands of pounds in to Davis’ bank account.

In a statement read out during Davis’ bail hearing, the woman claimed she used to enjoy treating herself to “nice things” such as ice cream and a bottle of wine.

Hopwever, she now could not even afford to feed herself properly.

The court heard when she refused to give him any more money, Davis allegedly blackmailed her by threatening to kill himself.

The woman also told police she believed drug dealers had torched her car over an unpaid debt.

Davis was arrested last Friday and appeared in court wearing a red prison-issue tracksuit.

He spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He was remanded in custody until his next appearance