A burglar left an 84-year-old woman distressed by breaking into her home as she slept.
Paul Williams stole various valuables from the pensioner, including her car, leaving her shocked and angry at the intrusion. Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim, who lives alone, woke during the night after hearing a noise but thought it was just the wind.
But when she got up in the morning, she found her sliding doors open and she had been burgled. Williams stole her TV, ipad, phone, car keys and her £8,000 car from outside. He was identified on CCTV in the area carrying a milk bottle, which was found discarded in the victim's garage.
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In a victim impact statement, the pensioner, of Sunderland, said it "really shaken her" and was angry someone had entered her home to steal from her.
Williams pleaded guilty to burglary and theft in relation to that break-in, which happened in November 2020. He also admitted another burglary in August 2021. The victim in that case said she wad distressed and added: "I can't believe someone has been in my house when I was in bed.
"I made a mistake by not locking the patio door but that's doesn't give anyone the right to enter my house."
Williams, 40, of no fixed address, who has 58 previous convictions, was jailed for 42 months.
Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: "He asks me to convey the fact he is utterly remorseful for his offending. He has had an entrenched drug addiction from a very young age. He has had a very difficult life but is making strenuous efforts to address his behaviour in custody
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