A man strangled his "vulnerable" neighbour to death before stealing his card to pay off a £40 debt, a court heard.

Jurors have been told Thomas Ellison, 35, repeatedly visited 58-year-old Ian Jupe at his flat before he killed and “tucked Mr Jupe into bed” to make it look as though he died peacefully.

Prosecutors say Ellison, who denies murder at Southampton Crown Court, then took Mr Jupe's card from his home in Heather Court, in Mountain Ash Close, Harefield, and withdrew more than £480 on May 28 this year.

'Bought lottery tickets'

Opening the case, prosecutor Charles Row KC said: “Ellison helped himself to Mr Jupe’s card and quickly left the flat along Thornhill Park Road.

“By 7.48am he was in the Post Office withdrawing the entire contents of the victim’s account - £481.10.

“The defendant then phoned his friend Darren Wardop and said he now had the £40 he owed him.

“On the way to meet him, he went into nearby shop Mr Local and bought a couple of lottery tickets.

“He had a large amount of Mr Jupe’s cash burning a hole in his pocket”.

'Covering his tracks'

Ellison feigned ignorance on the day of Mr Jupe’s death and the days that followed to cast blame elsewhere, Mr Row told the jury.

He added: "The defendant then set about covering his tracks, attempting to cast the eye of suspicion on others.

"He even pretended to be a concerned friend and hung around the flat while Mr Jupe's niece Michelle called the emergency services on the day of his death.

"Ellison told the police he visited Mr Jupe that morning and that he said to him he felt unwell and was going back to bed."

'He wanted money'

Mr Row told jurors Mr Jupe was mentally and physically vulnerable due to several medical conditions, and people would abuse that vulnerability.

Ellison had, in the past, been turfed out of the Mr Jupe's flat by his niece Michelle Jupe, Mr Row told the court.

The defendant lived with his mother on the same block and floor as Mr Jupe, the court was told. 

He went to see Mr Jupe three times on the day of the killing, Mr Row said, once in the early hours, again at 6.40am and then when he killed him.

Mr Row said Ellison had waited at the front door of Mr Jupe’s flat until he was eventually let inside, before leaving 20 minutes later.

“In those 20 minutes, he murdered Mr Jupe and he did so by strangling”, Mr Row said.

Ellison, of Heather Court, has admitted theft. The trial continues.