A 'NEIGHBOUR from hell' has won her battle to stay in the home where she helped a drug user take a fatal overdose last year.

She claims her numerous visitors no longer take drugs but study the Bible there these days.

But her boyfriend - a convicted drug dealer - is banned from visiting the address.

Signpost Housing applied to Poole County Court to evict Joanne Billings from her Birch Avenue home in Blandford St Mary following complaints from 13 neighbours.

The court heard how Ms Billings' behaviour had contributed to the death of Darren Taylor who overdosed at her home in October 2002.

A raid on the house in 2000 had yielded thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash, a stungun and paperwork relating to drug dealing.

Her partner Wayne Fowler had been sentenced to five years in prison, the court heard.

District Judge John Freeman said the defendant and her friends had made the neighbours' lives hell in the past. "I have come to the conclusion that, appalling and utterly inconsiderate though her past behaviour has been, the defendant should be given a last chance."

A Signpost spokesperson said: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents for their courage in coming forward with evidence."