THE neighbour of a pensioner bludgeoned to death by his cannabis-smoking daughter has written a heartfelt plea to Home Secretary David Blunkett to rethink the downgrading of the drug.

Cannabis, which is to be reclassified as a class C drug under Government guidelines, is being blamed for sparking the psychotic behaviour of Ann-Marie Pyle.

On Tuesday, the 42-year-old was jailed for life after admitting the manslaughter of her frail father, Bill Pyle, in a frenzied attack last November.

Carol Sowerby and her husband Ronnie, who lived next to the popular club doorman in Stanley Street, Close House, near Bishop Auckland, last night begged the Home Secretary to take Mr Pyle's violent death into consideration.

She said: "I don't want anyone else to go through what we have been through. If this could happen to someone like Bill it could happen to anyone."

Mrs Sowerby formed a close friendship with the 77-year-old retired hotelier when he moved into the terraced house next door.

The pair talked for hours about the problems he had with his wayward daughter.

She said: "Ann-Marie was a horrible girl. She is evil, anyone who can do that to their own father has to be."

Ann-Marie threatened Mrs Sowerby and told her to keep away from her father.

She said: "When she first came she was well-dressed and looked quite normal. Then we used to hear the rowing. She got to the stage where she used to shout at the top of her voice and her language... You hear a man swear but she was worse still."

Mrs Sowerby became worried for her own safety and avoided the animal-loving spinster. She said: "I must admit I was frightened of her."

On the day of the killing Mr and Mrs Sowerby became worried when they saw nothing of Mr Pyle. She said: "I even sent Ronnie to the club to see if he could see across into Bill's bedroom to see if he was okay.

"What we are surprised about is the fact that we did not hear the commotion. We heard swearing but nothing else. If I had realised what was happening I would not have hesitated to help Bill. He was a great friend and a great neighbour. I miss him a lot.

"He wanted to help Ann-Marie and he even would have forgiven her for what she has done. I just hope she never gets back into the community."