A BURGLAR who demanded money from a 92-year-old man during a raid at his home has been put behind bars.
Kenneth Roberts kicked in the terrified pensioner’s door, then ordered him to hand over cash while rifling through his private belongings.
The 27-year-old made off empty-handed when a brave neighbour, who spotted the stranger approaching the house, confronted him while he was carrying out the break-in.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Roberts may have deliberately targeted the property at East Herrington, Sunderland, on September 15 because he knew a vulnerable victim lived there.
Roberts, of Vale Street, Eden Vale, Sunderland, was jailed for two years and five months after pleading guilty to burglary.
The court heard Roberts has previous convictions for house raids, as well as robbery and violence.
Judge David Wood told him: “You threatened and frightened an old man in his own home, which, I am sure you understand now, was an unpleasant thing to do.
“It is something that will cause him a good deal of distress, no doubt, for the rest of his life
“This kind of burglary is clearly very serious and justifies a sentence of this kind.”
Christopher Rose, defending, said alcohol lay at the heart of Roberts’s offending.
Mr Rose said: “He deeply regrets this offence involved someone of the age of the complainant. It is clearly not something he would have done had he been sober.
“It is now something he feels a considerable amount of remorse for.”
Roberts had also admitted stealing a mobile phone, belonging to his own cousin, earlier that day.
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