A burglar who broke into the home of a 93-year-old woman a month after being released from prison for another break-in is back behind bars after a judge jailed him for 28 months.

The partially-sighted victim of the burglary got up during the night to go to the toilet and found glass had been smashed in a rear door and keys to the door were missing, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

She found a shovel on the kitchen floor and discovered that her handbag, containing her purse and bank cards, and a shopping bag had been stolen.

Scene of crime officers found a red cigarette lighter in the sitting room and Michael Dyer’s DNA was found on it, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

He said that following the burglary, Dyer had used the victim’s contactless bank card at shops in Ipswich.

Dyer was arrested after he was identified from CCTV footage at the shops, said Mr Crimp.

Dyer, 44, of no fixed address, admitted burglary in Playford Road, Ipswich, on April 21.

Jailing him for 28 months, Judge John Devaux said: “This is a sad case primarily from the point of view of the householder, who is an elderly lady of 93 who lived alone, whose home you burgled at night.”

The court heard that Dyer, who has committed 152 offences during the last 30 years, had been released from a prison sentence for another burglary in March – just a few weeks before the Playford Road burglary.

Peter Barlex, for Dyer, said the earlier sentence was imposed in 2016 and Dyer was on licence at the time of the Playford Road break-in.

He said that although Dyer had a probation officer and a drug worker when he was released from prison, he did not have any accommodation.

“He wouldn’t have committed the offence if he had accommodation,” said Mr Barlex.

He said Dyer was keen to find work and accommodation on his release from prison.

He said Dyer wanted to apologise for committing the burglary and had not realised the victim’s age.

“He is remorseful and had not targeted the victim because of her age,” said Mr Barlex.