A man who burgled the Norwich sheltered home of an 85-year-old pensioner as she slept in her bed has been jailed for 20 months.

Stuart Brooke, 22, crept in through an open window of the victim's home at Doughty's Hospital, in Golden Dog Lane, and stole her television, mobile phone and her purse, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said that it was not until the following morning that she realised her home had been burgled.

Mr Youell said that Brooke was later arrested for the burglary after he was identified from CCTV footage and was found to still have the stolen phone on him, which was returned to the victim.

He said Brooke must have known that he was breaking into the home of an elderly victim: 'It must have been clear to Mr Brooke that it was sheltered housing.'

He said Brooke had previously carried out a similar offence when he burgled another sheltered home in Silkfields, in Norwich, in 2016, when he had taken an elderly man's wallet and added: 'There is an element of targeting here.'

Brooke of Victoria Street, Norwich, admitted the burglary on April 16, this year.

Jailing him, Judge Stephen Holt said the burglary must have had a 'serious impact' on the life of the elderly victim, who was living alone in sheltered housing.

He said that he had entered the victim's home while she was asleep in bed and said although there was no victim personal statement in the case he said: 'It does not really need one to understand the impact on someone that is 85 years-old.'

David Wilson, for Brooke, said that he had mental health issues and was genuinely full of remorse for what he had done.

'He has accepted culpability and deserves credit for his guilty plea.'

He said that Brooke had committed the offence at a time when he had lost his accommodation and split with his partner.

He said Brooke had also written a letter, which was handed in to Judge Holt, in which he expressed his remorse and showed some insight into his offending.