A PENSIONER chased a burglar and demanded he empty his pockets after he startled her in her home.

The victim, who is in her 70s, was at her house in Wool on the morning of September 28 when Jamie Dickson-Smith suddenly appeared from her dining room.

The woman challenged Dickson-Smith, 41, and he said he had been searching for some electrical tape to fix the exhaust on his car.

After telling him to leave, the victim realised her leather purse, which contained £65 cash as well as stamps and vouchers, was missing.

She got into her car and drove around the village to track Dickson-Smith down. When she found him, she ordered him to empty his pockets, which were stuffed with cash.

Dickson-Smith told the victim the money was his.

He then gave her a false name and registration number for his car.

The victim was passing by Wool train station a short time later when she saw Dickson-Smith again. He ran off when he spotted her, but handed himself into a police station the following day.

Last week, he appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to admit burglary.

He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

Detective Constable Charlie Soutine of Dorset Police said: “We recognise the impact burglaries such as this can have on victims, with the offences occurring in the very place they should feel safe and secure.

“We are committed to bringing burglars such as Dickson-Smith to justice."