AN intruder who burst into a partially-sighted pensioner’s home and robbed her has been jailed for 12 years.

And Judge Jonathan Gibson ruled that John Austin’s surprise attack on half-deaf Jean Stobbs, 88, at her sheltered bungalow, was so disturbing that he must serve an extra five years on licence.

Burnley Crown Court was told the pensioner was left terrified and with bruising all up her arm after being manhandled by Austin and robbed of £400.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The court heard the victim’s ordeal began when Austin rang Mrs Stobbs’ front doorbell and rushed into her home.

He grabbed her arms and pushed her into the living room, causing Mrs Stobbs to fall to the floor, while he repeatedly demanded money from her.

The OAP took £200 from a plastic container and handed it over but he continued to insist she had more, the court heard.

Mrs Stobbs, of Colne, handed over another £150 from her purse and a further £50 from a second purse as he continued to make threats.

Austin tried to be careful not to leave any fingerprints at the scene but some of Mrs Stobbs’ blood was splashed on his top, later providing police with a DNA match.

The court was told Austin ordered the victim to remain in her armchair for 20 minutes after he had left, while he ripped a landline telephone wire out.

Mr Grout-Smith said that while the pensioner was left “incredibly shook up and frightened” she still had the presence of mind to use a second handheld phone to contact her daughter shortly afterwards.

CCTV footage was captured of Austin leaving the house and immediate area and an eyewitness also identified him as he fled, the court heard.

Austin refused to board the prison van for his sentencing hearing and the case was heard in his absence.

The 60-year-old also refused to leave his cell during his trial earlier this month, when he was convicted of robbery.

Passing sentence, Judge Jonathon Gibson noted that Austin was given a life term at Liverpool Crown Court for a similar kind of robbery offence.

Prison authorities had recalled him on licence after his arrest.

Jailing him, the judge said: “It was hoped that he would be able to live successfully, with help, in the community, from the probation service and others.

“However, it has become clear that he soon got back into drug use and that appears to have been the motivation for this offending.”

Judge Gibson, after ruling that Austin, who last lived in Adlington Street, Burnley, was a ‘dangerous offender’ ordered him to serve an extended five-year period on licence.