AN anonymous member of the public has given a £150 gift to burglary victim in Newcastle.

Simon Michael Houchin, 33, of Redheugh Court, Gateshead, appeared before Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday March 26 and was jailed for 20 months following a burglary in Renwick Street on February 5, 2013.

Houchin had conned his way into the home of a 95-year-old woman by pretending to be a police officer and stole several hundred pounds in cash from her.

Earlier today (Thursday April 4) a woman walked into Byker police station and handed over a card containing £150 which she asked to be handed to the victim.

She told officers that she had read the story of the burglary in the papers and wanted to help.

She did not give her name and said she wanted to remain anonymous.

Inspector Louise Cass-Williams said: “Acts of kindness like this are wonderful. “Just as people like Houchin can show people at their worst, people like this woman show them at their best.

“I hope that last week's sentencing acts to deter people from such crimes. In Newcastle we continue to work to crack down on burglars and give advice to residents on how they can reduce becoming the victim of such offences.”