A WORKMAN forced a 79-year-old woman out of her £150,000 home and tried to sell it for £50,000, a court has heard.

Prosecutors also say Christopher Barnes over-charged the woman by £28,000 for block paving work he had carried out.

It is also claimed when Barnes was confronted by a member of the woman’s family, on Saturday, he brandished a small black handgun and threatened the man.

Barnes appeared in custody at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Wearing a red Nike t-shirt, he spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

David Bryant, prosecuting, said: “He was doing building work for her and her family began to raise concerns that he was exploiting her vulnerability and encouraged her to sell her home for a price considerably below market value.”

The court heard Barnes was to buy it.

Mr Bryant added: “He had also charged £28,000 for a small amount of block paving. The house was to be sold for £50,000 when it is in fact valued at over £150,000.

“Solicitors became concerned she was selling the home at such a low price, especially since it was not being sold to a family member.”

The court also heard when the alleged victim’s family began to worry about what was happening, they found she was living in a caravan without a phone instead of her Clacton home.

It is claimed as a result of the discovery, the alleged victim’s nephew went to the home and asked to speak to the owner but was threatened with a “James Bond-style” handgun.

The prosecutor added: “The man was in extreme fear that he was going to be shot.”

Parm Panesar, representing Barnes, had applied for the 39-year-old to be released on bail and argued the house sale had been the victim’s idea.

He told the court: “He was going to allow her to live there bill-free and rent-free for the rest of her life, whether that be five years, ten years, 15 years - whatever.”

Barnes, of St Osyth Caravan Park, in Beach Road, was denied bail and remanded into custody.

He will next appear at Chelmsford Crown Court next month.

He entered no pleas to four charges, including three counts of fraud by false representation between November last year and last Saturday and one count of possessing a gun.