The woman whose £1.8 million will is the centre of an alleged fraud was a private person with few close friends, a court heard.

Annie Kay, 83, was an accomplished pianist who had become stooped and lost most of her mobility as she became older, her friend of 43 years William Thompson told Basildon Crown Court.

He was speaking at the trial of David Spillman, who with his now estranged wife Annette, cared for Miss Kay in her final months.

Mr Spillman, 44, of St Andrew's Road, Shoebury is charged with conspiracy to defraud beneficiaries of the spinster's estate worth £1.8 million.

Annette Spillman, 46, and Annette Russill, 65, have admitted the offence.

Earlier the court had heard how Russill, of Leicester Avenue, Rochford, made herself look older to impersonate Miss Kay and alter her will.

Probate practitioner Mark Goodson - who had never met Annie Kay - was called to Miss Kay's home where he was met by Russill in disguise.

Mr Thompson, who used to perform concert parties with Miss Kay last saw her in January 1997 when she was living with the Spillmans in Guildford Road, Southend.

Weeks later Mr Spillman rang Mr Thompson to tell him of Miss Kay's death. At her funeral in March 1997, her friend was the only mourner apart from the Spillmans and Annette Russill, whom Mr Thompson had not met before.

Miss Kay's bungalow in Dawlish Drive, Leigh, was a very modest apartment, said Mr Thompson, who was left a piano in her will. She shared her home with her companion Patrick Wedd.

Photographs of the couple on holidays littered the mantlepiece. Yet following Miss Kay's death, Mr Spillman asked Mr Thompson for photographs of the spinster.

Mr Thompson said: "I said what about the photographs around the fireplace and he said Miss Kay had asked for them to be destroyed which surprised me very much."

The trial continues.

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