A pensioner in her 90s was shocked to find a burglar asleep in her spare room.
The OAP was left shaken by the February incident which saw her confront a sleeping Frank Donoghue, 40, in her Hertfordshire home.
But after passing out at the victim’s home overnight, a dozy Donoghue grabbed several of the elderly woman’s things with him and made for the door.
Police were called to the home in Bricket Wood near St Albans and a forensic examination for clues pinned Donoghue as the thief.
Detective Sergeant Adam Haines, from the St Albans Local Crime Unit, said the incident has haunted the pensioner ever since.
‘Burglary is extremely traumatic for victims and this incident has had a lasting impact on the elderly lady involved,’ he said.
‘The personal statement read out in court detailed just how much she had been affected by what had happened and I am pleased that Donoghue is now behind bars.’
Donoghue was sentenced at St Alban’s Court on Tuesday having pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of a Class A drug (Heroin).
He has been jailed for three and a half years.
Both offences were committed while Donoghue was already on a suspended sentence.
It’s certainly not the first time a burglar has fallen asleep on the job.
Adam Pardoe, 41, was found by Birmingham police fast asleep while still clutching his elderly victim’s jewellery last year.
He initially got away after giving officers a fake name before being booked a week later thanks to bodycam footage.
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