A carer defrauded a terminally ill man out of his life savings, a court heard.

Paul King, 53, was supposed to look after 88-year-old Harry Brown but instead transferred money into his own bank account and withdrew thousands in cash over a four-year period.

King, of Western Road, Brighton, is accused of stealing £150,000 from Mr Brown. He denies this but admits stealing £30,000.

Mr Brown also sold his bungalow in Bevendean Avenue, Saltdean, which the Crown said King was intending to steal the proceeds of, Brighton Crown Court heard.

King pleaded guilty last month to fraud by abuse of position but the case has now been adjourned for a hearing next month to determine how much money he defrauded from Mr Brown.

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Gus Walter, prosecuting, said the Crown was not prepared to accept that King only stole £30,000.

He said they had “not seen any evidence of the family being aware of" the house sale.

Kevin Light, defending, said King was “adamant that there was nothing untoward about the sale of the house, in the fact it was in the victim’s best interests”.

Mr Light said the discrepancy over the amount of money was due to the fact King was being paid a wage by Mr Brown and was incurring expenses on his behalf.

District Judge Amanda Kelly questioned why this dispute was being brought up at sentencing and said “regrettably” the case would most likely be heading for a Newton hearing. This is when a defendant pleads guilty to an offence but there is disagreement with the prosecution "as to the material facts on which the defendant should be sentenced".

Judge Kelly said: “I am extremely concerned, this is a case of the utmost sensitivity. A terminally ill victim who has been defrauded out of his life savings and possibly his family home.”

Mr Brown’s family travelled down from Oxfordshire and were sitting in the public gallery.

The case was adjourned until January 18 at the same court. King is on bail with a condition that he does not contact Mr Brown.