A man who took part in a break-in at a woman's house while she cowered upstairs has been jailed for eight months.

Ricky Elliot claimed he only acted as look out during the raid on the Melksham house during the evening of Friday, February 1.

The 21-year-old and two accomplices smashed a security light outside the Spa Road home before burgling the home as the woman sat terrified upstairs.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Monday how Naval officer Helen Jones was having a cup of tea in her bedroom at 5.45pm when she heard a noise downstairs.

Mrs Jones, who was home alone, went to go downstairs but hesitated when she heard the door latch, so called out knowing there was someone there.

She then phoned the police and her husband, staying upstairs until he arrived home.

When she went down to the kitchen and pantry area she noticed the back door to the garden was open and two vodka bottles on the wall.

Her £180 Mulberry purse, which contained £40 cash and £25 in gift vouchers, had been taken along with an Apple Mac Probook and digital camera.

Mr Meeke said a victim impact statement from Mrs Jones told how she had been left feeling unsafe in her own home as a result of the break in.

A number of people were arrested but the court was told that none of the others were charged. Elliot, of Hurricane Road, Melksham, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary.

The court heard he had a long list of previous offences for theft and assault, including robbery, but never breaking into houses.

Jason Taylor, defending, said three people had taken part in the break-in but his client had not gone into the property .

He said he had gone out and got drunk with another man and on the way home the accomplice, who he named to the police, decided to carry out the break in.

When Elliot got cold feet he claimed he was threatened with a knife and thought of running away, but decided not to.

Passing sentence Judge Douglas Field said "This was a serious case and the most serious feature is the fact that the occupier was upstairs when the burglary took place. We have heard from the impact statement just what an affect this crime had.

"I take into account that you did not actually go into the premises and I take at face value that you did not benefit in any way from the crime. I will also take at face value that you felt threatened."