Walker pensioner with heart problems shocked to find burglar in her home; Byker burglar Andrew Johnson left a Walker pensioner who has a pacemaker fitted shocked and distressed by breaking into her home.

Byline: Rob Kennedy

A pensioner with heart problems got the shock of her life when she found a burglar creeping round her home in the middle of the afternoon.

The 65-year-old victim, who has a pacemaker fitted, was alerted that something was amiss when her dog started barking towards the living room door.

When the woman opened the door in her terraced house in Walker, Newcastle, she was confronted by intruder Andrew Johnson.

A court heard the pensioner was left extremely shocked and distressed by the break-in but now Johnson has walked free from court on a community order.

As Johnson, 47, who has 84 previous convictions, was sentenced, the victim told of her distress in a statement to Newcastle Crown Court.

She said: "I'm fitted with a pacemaker and when I found the person in the house I was extremely shocked and distressed.

"I'm concerned my health issues could have been more detrimental and I'm upset this person came to my house to steal.

"I came face to face with him, I was touching distance away from him."

The woman, who lives alone on Dunstanburgh Road, Walker, was in the house around 4pm on December 8 last year.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said: "The victim's dog started barking loudly towards the living room door.

"The complainant stood up and opened the living room door and was confronted by the defendant.

"She was extremely shocked and distressed to find him in her hallway."

Johnson made an excuse about looking for someone and left without taking anything. Police were called and he was arrested nearby.

Johnson, of St Peter's Road, Byker, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal.

A judge said the fact he has been remanded in custody since December meant a community...

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