A heroin addict left an 85-year-old woman so terrified that she was rushed to hospital.

Daniel Wilkinson, who had only been out of prison for a few weeks, smashed through a double-glazed window as he attempted to break into the pensioner's bungalow in September.

The 28-year-old, who has a history of breaking into pensioners' homes, had been freed from a three-year jail term less than four weeks earlier.

The drug addict is now back behind bars after a judge at Swindon Crown Court jailed him for three years and four months.

Wilkinson went to the house in Okus Road on the evening of Tuesday, September 27.

The widow, who has lived alone for years, heard the noise of a window smashing at 7.45pm and went to investigate.

Ian Halliday, prosecuting, said the plucky householder shouted out: "Who's there? What's going on?"

As Wilkinson fled the woman suffered a shortness of breath and an ambulance was called to take her to hospital treat her for the shock of dealing with the intruder.

However she wanted to return home and spent the night in her bungalow with a relative to keep her company.

In a victim impact statement she told how she now lives in fear of Wilkinson returning to break in to home again.

Wilkinson, who is homeless, was arrested later and had window glass on his clothes.

The court heard that he had been released on August 31 after serving half of a three-year jail term for burglary. Wilkinson admitted attempted burglary.

Philip Warren, defending, said that his client did not know the home was occupied by an elderly woman who lived alone.

Judge Tom Longbotham said Wilkinson was appearing for the sixth time for house burglary or attempted burglary.

The judge added that the three-year four-month sentence was only to start after he had completed nine months from the previous jail term.