A BURGLAR who made a getaway on a mobility scooter after 'terrifying' a young woman in her bedroom is beginning a jail term.

John Francis burgled one Worcester home, attempted to burgle another and committed several frauds with a stolen bank card, using it to splash out on whisky, designer clothes and a drill.

The 44-year-old of Wyld's Lane, Worcester, later found to be armed with a homemade stun gun, was jailed for 26 months at Worcester Crown Court on Friday after a series of adjournments delayed the sentence.

Francis burgled a six bedroom semi-detached house with nine people inside, including children, in Hillary Road, Worcester on May 26 last year, entering through a downstairs window.

He was later to admit to police that he had performed work as a decorator at the same address and knew there was money in the kitchen, which the judge said made it a 'mean offence'.

From inside Francis stole an iPad (£200), a laptop (also £200), an iPhone (£500), £100 in cash from a tea pot and a Santander bank card which he later used to commit six frauds by false representation.

Francis splashed out on a £45 drill from Wickes, trainers and a bag worth £36 from Sports Direct, clothing and other items worth £42 from Mountain Warehouse, clothing valued at £28 from JD Sports, £39 of electrical items from Asda and whisky worth £30 from St Paul's News.

Siobhan Collins, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was identified as being responsible for the transactions by various police officers."

On May 30 last year, just four days after the burglary, Francis attempted to burgle another house in Devon Road, Worcester, disturbing a young female student who was asleep downstairs.

"She was woken up at 3.20am to find the defendant attempting to gain access through her bedroom window which was very close to her. She described it as being just over her head" said Miss Collins.

Francis was wearing black gloves and a black hat - the gloves interpreted by sentencing judge Nicolas Cartwright as evidence the defendant had gone equipped for the burglary as there would be no need for him to wear gloves in summer.

When the victim shouted at Francis he ran away. "He got on a mobility scooter and left" said Miss Collins.

The victim described how for a couple of days afterwards she could not sleep. "She was worried he would come back," the prosecutor said.

Her uncle, a taxi driver, recognised the defendant from a photo obtained from a neighbouring property, naming him to police.

As a result police attended Francis's home on June 9 last year, conducting a search where they found a home-made Taser or 'stun gun' capable of delivering an electric shock, identified as a prohibited weapon.

Of the attempted burglary, Francis told officers in interview he had been 'looking for somewhere to burgle' and 'he had no money'.

Francis had convictions for shoplifting and drugs offences but nothing for burglary and no previous weapons offences on his record.

He also had several convictions for failing to comply with the terms of a community order. In total he had 32 previous offences recorded against him, 'including many offences of theft' said the judge.

Judge Cartwright, sentencing, also noted that laptops and phones did not just represent a financial loss to their owner but contained 'photographs, personal messages and other personal data'.

He said of the attempted burglary: "It must have been terrifying for that young woman to wake and find you climbing in the window in that way."

Francis can expect to serve half the 26 months in custody and half on licence in the community. The forfeiture and destruction of the stun gun was ordered.