A MAN who turned himself in after robbing an elderly woman in her own home while he was high on crack has been jailed.

Mark Dythe, 52, of Kenilworth Road, was sentenced to three years and nine months behind bars at Southampton Crown Court today after pleading guilty to one count of robbery.

The court heard that the father-of-four, who had been high on crack cocaine at the time of the incident, had missed his methadone script and was having withdrawals.

Prosecuting Dawn Hyland said the defendant spotted 77-year-old Mrs Lorraine Barter going into her home after returning around lunchtime  on November 22 from a shopping trip.

The defendant followed her into to the property where the victim asked what he wanted. When he did not respond she became concerned and shouted for her husband.

Miss Hyland said Dythe then grabbed Mrs Barter’s bag which was around her neck.

The victim grabbed onto the bag with both hands and in a struggle was pulled into a large cabinet and ended up on the floor.

She suffered bruising and was taken to hospital.

The defendant then turned and ran out the door with the bag. Mrs Barter ran outside after him to see the direction Dythe went in while her husband called the police.

He then took £40 in cash out of the handbag along with a Nokia phone before ditching the bag in an alley.

The court heard Dythe then used the money to buy his next fix but when he started to come down off his high started to feel guilty so rang the police and turned himself in.

Defending Nick Robinson said: “The defendant would like to apologise to Mrs Barter publically. He has been wracked with guilt. This is someone who has taken a step back from his addiction and intoxication and thought 'oh my goodness what have I done?'.”

Mrs Barter said: “The defendant have proven himself to be an honest man by confessing to this crime.

“I don’t feel safe because this goes on all over the country."