A TERRIFIED woman woke to find two hooded burglars ransacking her home in the middle of the night.

Southampton Crown Court heard one of the intruders, Pawel Kurowski, had been living just two doors away.

The 55-year-old living alone had locked her doors, including the bedroom, when she went to bed at 10pm, but shortly after 2.30am was woken by the sound of the key turning in the bedroom lock and a torch shining in.

Prosecutor Rachel Robertson said she cried out, “Who’s that?”, but received no response and then heard footsteps. Minutes later she heard further noises and she sent a text to a friend who advised her to stay where she was and he called the police.

Arriving within minutes, they found the rear door damaged, entered the hall and were confronted by two hooded intruders, Kurowski and Pawel Skobel who were detained after a struggle.

Both had been drinking and Kurowski was found with cigarettes, tobacco, a lighter and chewing gum which were the occupant’s.

Skobel, 29, of Bitterne Road West, Southampton and Kurowski, 26, of Brading Close, Basset Green, admitted burglary, Skobel was jailed for two years and Kurowski for 30 months.

Judge Derwin Hope told them the burglary was aggravated because it was at night, the victim alone and it could have left her with serious psychological affects.