A WHITEHAVEN woman has been jailed for her 14th burglary - a raid on the home of an 89-year-old man.

Among the items stolen by 31-year-old drug addict Kymberley Bennewith was an engagement ring which had belonged to the victim's wife, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

She broke into the pensioner's ground floor flat in Woodstock Lane, Whitehaven, on November 3 last year.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson said that the victim was left feeling unsafe in his own home. The ring - which was of great sentimental value - was never recovered.

"I shouldn't have to feel like that in my own home," the pensioner later told police.

After the break-in was discovered, police found the defendant's fingerprints and footprints in the pensioner's home. Bennewith, of Cross Street, Whitehaven, admitted burglary. The court heard that the defendant had 135 offences on her criminal record, and this was her 14th house burglary.

Defence barrister Brendan Burke told Judge Peter Davies that Bennewith was an example of a life destroyed by drug addiction.

"Rhoughly a third of it has been spent in prison already," said Mr Burke.

As he jailed Bennewith for 39 month, Judge Davies told her the offence was particularly unpleasant.

"This gentleman was 89 years old," said the judge.

"He should not have had to come home in the evening of his life to find that you have rifled through it. There were items on the floor, furniture moved, drawers opened... there's no contrition, no remorse. You don't care."