Jailed: Serial burglar raided Telford home of woman, 64

Daryl Rattew smashed a window to get into 64-year-old Nimon Kaur's home before turning the place upside down and discovering a stash of £50 notes and other cash she had been keeping for her holiday.

He struck minutes after the victim had left her home in The Rock for a morning walk – and was disturbed when she returned just 45 minutes later to find him in her home, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

The 38-year-old fled the property through a patio door after the pensioner noticed the damage to her window and went into her garden to scream for help.

Rattew, of Marlborough Way, admitted burgling the woman's house when he appeared at court yesterday and was jailed for 14 months by judge Peter Barrie.

Miss Heather Chamberlin, prosecuting, said the burglary took place on September 15 after the woman went out for a walk and was out from around 11.30am to 12.15pm.

The prosecutor added: "When she returned she noticed a window had been damaged and ran into her garden, screaming for help.

"As she went into the garden she saw a man leave through the patio door. A neighbour took her in and she called the police.

"Officers attended and found an untidy search. Entry had been gained by breaking a window and cash had been taken, notably a number of £50 notes. There was £380 taken altogether.

"The defendant was arrested nearby, he had cash on him and in these denominations. Footprints found at the property were also a match."

Mr Paul Smith, for Rattew, said his client had a long-standing problem with drugs but had been making "excellent progress" since his last conviction for a number of burglaries at Stafford Crown Court in 2014.

But he said Rattew had grown frustrated at not being able to get a job after his release from prison and had slowly slipped back into taking drugs.