A 79-YEAR-OLD woman has been left too scared to live in her own home after an act of kindness led to her being strangled and assaulted by a stranger.

The elderly widow invited grandmother Kathleen Carberry into her house after noticing her sitting “in a distressed state” on a bench outside her home in Spennymoor, County Durham.

Carberry accepted the invitation at around 5pm on February 2, and spent two and a half hours in the bungalow before being asked to leave.

John Palmer, prosecuting at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, said: “She is eventually asked to leave, but she won’t leave and becomes aggressive and the complainant threatens to call the police.

“She grabs the complainant by the throat and began to squeeze.

“This has resulted in slight reddening around the throat of the complainant. The defendant has also kicked the complainant in the leg.”

Unemployed Carberry, of Rothery Walk, Whitworth, Spennymoor, said she had drank vodka during the day and pleaded guilty to a single count of common assault.

A victim impact statement was read out by Mr Palmer on behalf of the 79-year-old, who said: “I invited this girl into my house as I’m a caring person, but I became a prisoner in my own home.

“I’ve been staying with my daughter as I’m too scared to go back.

“I feel this girl will come back and get me and I really don’t want to go home.”

The court heard that Carberry had attempted to send a letter of apology to the 79-year-old woman, however it was not accepted.

John Clish, mitigating, said: “The defendant has very little recollection of the day and is very remorseful for her actions and is of previous impeccable character.

“The defendant has had long-term issues with depression since her teenage years – perhaps when mental health was not as well understood back then.”

District Judge Helen Cousins sentenced Carberry to a 12-month suspended sentence and imposed a restraining order for five years.