A JUDGE has ordered psychiatric reports on a man who hatched an elaborate plan to kill his neighbour after becoming obsessed with a revenge plot sparked by a "flea-infested duvet".

Andrew James Miller subjected his victim to a "horrifying ordeal" - burgling her house a number of times, moving furniture around and lacing her milk with sedatives.

The sequence of terrifying events culminated last February when the 54-year-old - armed with an axe, rope and gaffer tape and a blow-up male doll - created a road diversion to lure her down a remote track.

Miller, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, has admitted five counts of burglary and one count of harassment but denied sneaking into her house to spike her milk with a prescription drug.

Following a two-day trial at Durham Crown Court, a jury unanimously found him guilty of administering the drug.

The court heard although Miller had never spoken to the woman, he was motivated by a "hatred" for her and nicknamed her 'clip-clop'.

According to notes found, the hostility was linked to a duvet she had given to Miller - which he claimed was riddled with mites and had given him fleas.

He then launched his so-called 'Operation Porcupine' and, at the top of an outline of a lady, he wrote "clip-clop must die".

A suicide note referring to both his and her death was also discovered.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Miller had taken cash, an iPod, mementoes and other items from the victim's home which he admitted.

The same items, including keys to her house, were later found in his possession.

The jury found that sometime during the six-months prior to January 2015, Miller had laced his victim's milk with his prescription drug mirtazapine.

Mr Newcombe said she became increasingly concerned by the metallic taste in her milk which would be present, after a few days, no matter where she bought it.

The victim became prone to falling asleep for around three hours after eating breakfast and went in search of answers from doctors after sleeping up to 16 hours a day at times.

Tests found traces of the drug in hair samples which Mr Newcombe said showed it had been digested and had gone through her system.

The final act came after she changed her locks last January.

Miller created a road block leading her to drive her car down a country track - from where she called police.

In the boot of his car, officers found a knife, axe, hammer, rope, wires, a blow-up dressed male doll, masks and other items.

Paul Abrahams, defending, said there was an absence of evidence linking the defendant to the fridge and and the milk.

Miller, who has repeatedly escaped from psychiatric units and made "sinister searches" online, did not wish to give evidence.

Judge Christopher Prince said it was likely the defendant would be made subject to a mental health order, adding: "He will be secure and if I make a restriction order he will stay there for a very long time, if not forever."

The victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, told The Northern Echo: "It's a year since he was arrested and it's been a long year.

"If it was a television programme I would have turned it off - it was absolutely terrifying.

"Sometimes I was frozen to the spot thinking he was in the house. I'm relieved that justice is going to be done."

Miller will be sentenced on February 26 via video link from psychiatric hospital Roseberry Park, Middlesbrough, where he remains.