THIS is the moment a sneak-in burglar plunged to the ground after diving head first through a first floor bedroom window.

Stuart Marsden had earlier been captured on CCTV shimmying up a drainpipe to climb into the home of 85-year-old Jean West, which he believed was empty.

But the grandmother-of-eight had visitors and when her son-in-law Neil Morrison heard a strange noise he went outside to investigate.

Seeing Marsdens legs disappear through the window Mr Morrison ran upstairs where he tried to apprehend the burglar who struggled out of his grasp.

ABOVE: The burglary attempt was captured on CCTV

But the grandmother-of-eight had visitors and when her son-in-law Neil Morrison heard a strange noise he went outside to investigate.

Seeing Marsdens legs disappear through the window Mr Morrison ran upstairs where he tried to apprehend the burglar who struggled out of his grasp.

As he climbed back out of the window, Mr Morrison again tried to grab Marsden only to be kicked in the face.

Marsden then fell head first onto a porch roof before landing on the ground. He is then seen limping as he runs away.

Widow Mrs West, a mother-of-five, said: “I am surprised he survived the fall going out of that window head first like that. It is a real drop.

“If I had been on my own I honestly think the shock would have killed me.

“I was sat in the front room with my daughter, son-in-law and grandson who were visiting from Edinburgh, when we heard a noise.

“My son-in-law went to check it out and came running back inside saying he had seen a man climbing into my bedroom window.

“Neil ran upstairs and switched on the light as the man dived on to the floor to try and hide between the wardrobe and the bed.”

Prosecutors said the 48-year-old thief, who was jailed for 28 months, then apologised and tried to climb back out of the window he had entered head first.

The court heard Mr Morrison tried to apprehend Marsden by grabbing hold of his legs.

But he struggled, kicking him in the face several times before falling out of the window and running off.

Mrs West, of Willis Road, in the Witton area of Blackburn, said: “I am just so pleased I wasn’t alone and he has got what he deserved.

“This is the second time I have been burgled.

“The first time was about two years ago when a man snuck into my house at tea time and hid under the stairs for hours.

“I had no idea he was there, but when I went to bed around midnight it just felt like something was wrong so I kept getting up.

“Around 3am in the morning the man popped out from under my bed, apologised and ran off.

“That was horrific, especially thinking about what could have happened.

“To be targeted again is horrible.

“Victim Support have been round though and fitted safety locks to the windows which has made me feel much safer. ”

Marsden, of Charterhouse Place, Blackburn, had gone out that night with the specific intention of committing a burglary, Preston Crown Court heard .

Prosecutors said the former drug addict was arrested when police recovered DNA on a hat dropped by the burglar in the struggle on March 30.

He pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal and asked the judge to take into account another burglary and attempted burglary committed in April.

Looking at his offending record, Judge Michael Byrne said the fact Marsden had committed 67 separate offences on 28 occasions, including 12 burglaries was ‘appalling’.

He said: “There are three aggravating factors to take into account when sentencing you.

“One is that the victim was vulnerable and elderly at the age of 85, the next is that you deliberately set out to carry out the burglary, and the other is that there was a small amount of violence used when you were caught.”

Prosecutors said Marsden told police he had carried out the burglary in a bid to get money to pay for a deposit on a flat and to pay for flights to Spain so he could look for work.

DI Paul Langley, from Blackburn CID, said: "We have released this CCTV footage to show people the lengths opportunist thieves will go to.

“If thieves see an open window or door, they will take their chances and in Marsden’s case, risk life and limb to get into your home.

"I hope people are reassured that Marsden is now off the streets and behind bars for a considerable amount of time.

“At the same time, I hope this acts as a warning to residents to make sure they lock their doors and windows before they go out and before they go to bed.

"By taking a few extra crime prevention measures you are greatly decreasing your chances of becoming a victim of crime.”