A DRUG user who burgled the home of a vulnerable 60-year-old woman who had tried to help him has been jailed for three years.

Avril Blake was asleep in her bed when she awoke to find 20-year-old Ashley Davies rooting thought her belongings.

At the time of the raid the intruder was on bail for a break-in at an elderly couple’s bungalow and a suspended sentence for a third burglary.

Prosecutor Tessa Hingston told Swindon Crown Court how Miss Blake, of Rodbourne, had extended a helping hand to Davies.

“She had attempted to help him as she was aware of his drugs problems. But she had had problems with this defendant before,” she said.

The victim struggled to sleep so on Tuesday, October 15 had not dropped off until about 5.30am, and did not wake until hearing noises at about 10am.

She opened her eyes to see Davies in her bedroom rummaging though a bag and said: ‘What do you think you are doing’.

He fled through a back door, which she realised she had not locked the night before, and she then suffered a panic attack meaning she could not call the police until later.

When she looked round her room she realised he had taken a gold ladies’ watch, which he was later found wearing, an opal ring and her Post Office savings worth about £500.

Three months earlier Davies had managed to break into a bungalow in Devizes Road, Wroughton, where the elderly couple had left a kitchen window ajar.

He left a fingerprint on the inside of the glass as he managed to get away with a set of keys during the break in on a hot July night.

Davies, of Morrison Street, Rodbourne, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary.

He also admitted being in breach of an eight week suspended sentence imposed in June.

The court heard that he had a number of previous convictions including other matters against Miss Blake.

Tony Bignall, defending, said his client had a bad record which was down to his problems with drugs and he was sorry for what he had done.

Jailing him, Judge Euan Ambrose said: “She is a vulnerable individual and she had extended the hand of friendship in the past to help you with your drug addiction.

“She has now been the victim of three offences by you. A caution back in December 2012 for criminal damage, she was the victim of that offence.

“Also on your record a conviction for theft dating to December 2012. She was the victim of that offence. Now in October 2013 you burgle her house.”

Referring to the other break in, he said: “It is an aggravating feature that the householders of that property were elderly.

“The consequences of burglary on elderly homeowners cannot be under- estimated.”

As well as jailing him for three years he also imposed a restraining order banning him from contacting Miss Blake for 10 years.