Prosecutor Peter Joyce told Nottingham Crown Court how Smith, 44, of West Hill, Skegby near Mansfield, had racked up debts of up to £20,000 in credit cards and bank loans.

He was speaking at the opening of Smith's trial on Tuesday morning.

The victim had lived in Crich and worked in the Matlock area until she was 44.

Smith is accused of killing neighbour Hilda some time between February 26 and March 1, 2007.

The jury was told how Smith feared he would be made homeless following the breakdown of his relationship with gay lover Adam Dixon, who he had lived with since 2002.

Smith then agreed to take over the mortgage for the West Hill home, which was owned by Mr Dixon, and to pay him a further £6,000.

Mr Joyce said: "He told friends he was worried about being unable to meet the mortgage payment he told them it kept him awake at night, he even tried to prostitute himself to a former associate for £800 a week.

"He described himself as being mortgaged up to the hilt and even broke down sobbing uncontrollably at work.

"In February 2007 he began to speak of a plan that would solve all his problems, a plan that would mean he would never be homeless again if it worked out. That plan involved inheriting Hilda's house and possessions."

In the days leading up to the killing, Smith arranged for Hilda to visit a solicitor on January 9 to transfer the ownership of her house into her name from her dead husband's.

On February 19, Smith then wrote a will for Hilda which he had purchased from W.H. Smith and back-dated for January 27, giving him ownership of her house and possessions following her death.

The case continues.