A BURGLAR who caused horrific injuries to an 81-year-old great grandmother during a raid at her home was jailed for life yesterday.

Barry Alderson left Mary Richardson, who weighed only six stone, with a fractured skull, collarbone, nose and severe bruising after attacking her as she slept alone in her bungalow.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Alderson, 24, punched Mrs Richardson, who suffered from dementia, so hard that her dentures shattered in her mouth. He then ransacked her home.

Following the attack, the great-grandmother spent three months in hospital before she died from liver cancer.

Alderson, a civil servant, admitted burgling her home and taking money, jewellery and a bottle of sherry as well as causing grievous bodily harm.

Julian Smith, prosecuting, said the pensioner was found unconscious at her bungalow in Stanton Road, Shiremoor, North Tyneside, on July 2, by a carer.

Defence barrister Tom Moran said Alderson was "deeply sorry" for what he had done.

Mr Moran said Alderson was a former heroin addict who still smoked cannabis and had taken ecstasy and alcohol on the night of the attack.

After the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson from North Tyneside Area Command said: "We are very pleased with the sentence the judge has imposed which reflects the severity of the crime."