A TERRIFIED pensioner resorted to living on the streets when his bullying boss took over his home.

Leslie Kingston, 72, became a prisoner in his own home when sadistic cafe boss Brandon Di Caprio decided to move in when his marriage broke down.

Newcastle Crown Court was told Mr Kingston was frequently beaten and humiliated by Di Caprio, 45, who would send the pensioner to his room and take chunks of his pension from him.

Mr Kingston became so terrified, he fled his home in South Shields, South Tyneside, and walked to Sunderland before heading to Durham, where he slept in shop doorways.

Roger Moore, prosecuting, told the court how Di Caprio's hold was so strong, Mr Kingson travelled to Darlington to cash in his pension and sent £10 to Di Caprio.

The court heard how Mr Kingston met Di Caprio in the late 1990s and offered to help out at his cafe in Dean Road, South Shields.

Mr Kingston's ordeal started in September 2002. After moving into Mr Kingston's home, where he frequently entertained a woman, Di Caprio started to bully and torment the pensioner.

After leaving home Mr Kingston was finally tracked down by his family after spending two nights on the streets.

Di Caprio, of South Wharton Street, South Shields, was arrested and admitted harassment.

Carl Gumsley, mitigating, said: "Mr Di Caprio has accepted he has a significant problem because when he is under pressure, he responds in what is a highly inappropriate and most sadistic way."

Di Caprio was jailed for three years. The court heard Di Caprio had a similar conviction from 1996 when he was sentenced to four years. In 2002, he was convicted of offences against another man and jailed for 15 months.