A BRAVE pensioner has told how she brandished a carving knife at a burglar who confronted her in her home, chasing the man from the property.Grandmother Joyce Lane, 74, from London Road in Ipswich, confronted the man after he got into her home through a bedroom window and walked in to her living room where she was watching The Bill.

By John Howard

A BRAVE pensioner has told how she brandished a carving knife at a burglar who confronted her in her home, chasing the man from the property.

Grandmother Joyce Lane, 74, from London Road in Ipswich, confronted the man after he got into her home through a bedroom window and walked in to her living room where she was watching The Bill.

Mrs Lane, who suffers from arthritis and is partially blind, courageously struggled up from her chair and went after the man, who fled.

Mrs Lane, a widower who was married to George for 53 years, said: “I have never been so frightened in my life. All of a sudden I was conscious my lounge door opened and this man walked in.

“I screamed at him to get out. I had made myself a salad sandwich on a little table in front of me and there was a knife on there, which I picked up.

“I do not think I would have had the nerve to use it to be honest, but perhaps it frightened him.

“I am not very agile, I have arthritis, but I got out of the chair and went into the hall where he had gone.

“But then he started tapping on the windows and I did not know what to think so I phoned the police and they came very quickly, but he had gone. I am still trembling thinking about it, it is a cruel world.”

Mrs Lane, a retired sheltered housing warden, lost her purse during the burglary at about 9.45pm on Thursday.

It contained almost £200, including her pension money, and £30 one of her sons had sent her at Christmas to buy herself a treat.

All her bank cards were also inside, along with stamps and family photographs.

It is the third time she has been burgled, once returning home from a caravan holiday in Felixstowe to find her home ransacked, while another raid saw an intruder get into the house to steal her purse during the night.

Investigating officer Dc Jim Booth, of Ipswich police, said: “This was an extremely distressing experience for the victim.

“Although not physically hurt, she was very shaken. She was extremely brave in confronting the offender.

“While police would never encourage members of the public to put themselves at risk by confronting an intruder, we admire her courage.”

The burglar, who had worn gloves during the break-in, was a white man aged between 40 and 45-years-old with a slight build and a thin face.

He had dark brown hair that may have been curly at the front, or possibly just ruffled.

He had no discernable accent and spoke in a quiet voice. He was between five feet five inches and five feet eight inches tall and smelt strongly of tobacco.

He was wearing dark clothing including a medium length dark top.

n Anyone who recognises the burglar, or who has any information about the incident, should contact Dc Booth on 01473 613500. Calls can also be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.