A 19-YEAR-OLD who stole from a 95-year-old Ipswich woman "lied through his teeth" a court heard.John Powell, of Shetland Close, Ipswich, was found guilty of burglary at Violet Mills' Roundwood Road home.

A 19-YEAR-OLD who stole from a 95-year-old Ipswich woman "lied through his teeth" a court heard.

John Powell, of Shetland Close, Ipswich, was found guilty of burglary at Violet Mills' Roundwood Road home.

Judge Gareth Hawkesworth said: "What you did to this old lady was mean and any right minded members of society would think it disgusting. You were not man enough to get up and admit it, you got in that witness box and lied through your teeth."

He told Powell, who is due to become a father next month: "You have to grow up, you have to take responsibility for your own actions as well as for your family."

During the trial the court heard that Mrs Mills' daughter Heather Hume had seen Powell at her mother's flat. She recognised the intruder as he had done odd jobs for her.

One hundred and thirty pounds cash was stolen from Mrs Mills' handbag. Although Powell's palm prints was found on the front door of the flat Powell denied burglary.

He claimed he had been at a friend's house in Ipswich on the day of the burglary. Powell was sent to a young offenders institute for two years.