Disabled West Bromwich pensioner awoke to find 6ft burglar stealing money from her bedside table
A disabled pensioner woke up to find a 6ft 3in burglar towering over her bed rifling through the purse he had taken from her bedside table.
Peter Hines, 65, had crept into the room of the vulnerable lady, who he lived with in West Bromwich shared accommodation, to steal money for Class A drugs.
Hines,originally from Sandwell but of no fixed abode, had known his victim for over 30 years and knew she was disabled and "an easy target".
The disabled lady raised the alarm by shouting and other residents came to her aid. Hines was arrested shortly after on February 26 and remanded in custody.
Hines pleaded guilty to burglary a week before his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court and was sentenced to two years and three months.
The court heard in mitigation, Hines had been addicted to Class A drugs for years but had been clean during his time in prison, and has several health problems which have been made by being in jail.
Hines also apologised to the court and his victim and said it was "a spur of the moment" crime and was "very sorry".
'She was an easy target'
Judge Laura Hobson told Hines he had targeted someone who he knew was very vulnerable.
She said: "Your victim is a disabled pensioner, you knew her and knew she was an easy target. Her door was open and you could get in easily, you were only stopped because she woke up to find you stealing from her purse.
"She woke up to find you in her bedroom which was very distressing for her. She now feels less safe in her own home because of you. On the night of your crime you were under the influence of Class A drugs, which you have been addicted for a long time, I accept this was opportunistic as you lived in the same accommodation as her.
She added: "You have a previous record of similar offences. You only pleaded guilty a week before your trial so I will reduce your sentence by 15 per cent. So I am sentencing you to 27 months. The seven months you have served on remand will count towards your sentence.
"I am also imposing a five-year restraining order so when you get out you cannot contact her. You cannot go to where she lives."