THE tenant of an Abergavenny house closed down as a drugs den lost his appeal to move back in.

The home of Robert Paxton, aged 40, of Ysguborwen, Abergavenny, became in December the first house in Monmouthshire to be closed because it posed a serious nuisance to the public.

The terms were given on the order as "causing a nuisance and unlawful use or supply of Class A drugs from the premises".

Now, Paxton's bid before a judge at Cardiff crown court to appeal against the closure order has failed.

At an earlier hearing, Abertillery magistrates were told that police discovered class A drugs, paraphernalia, used syringes and boxes containing syringes after a raid on Paxton's home in October 2004.

Neighbours complained of visitors at all hours of the day, cars blaring horns and Paxton shouting and swearing.

Paxton, who has lived in the area for 28 years, admitted in court having drug users visit his house on a regular basis.

In December, Paxton told magistrates at the Abertillery court that he was addicted to heroin and took it on a daily basis.

He said: " I am a heroin user, I have been for three years."

A survey into anti-social behaviour was carried out in the area in October in which 50 letters were sent out.

Twenty seven were returned to crime and disorder reduction officers in Abergavenny with 14 mentioning Paxton's address as a problem.

There were reports of drug dealing and fighting.

Paxton is currently on bail and awaiting sentence after pleading guilty on December 15 at Abergavenny magistrates' court to possessing heroin