Robbers threatened elderly widow at knife-point, took her engagement ring and threw dog bowl full of water over her during attack in her own home

Ryan Gledhill and another man ransacked the woman's home and stole cash, bank cards and her engagement ring from her husband who had died just weeks earlier.

During the 20-minute ordeal, the 71-year-old victim had a dog bowl full of water thrown at her when she asked for a drink.

She later said she felt like she "had been raped" in an emotional sense, as she watched the pair rip out drawers and empty cupboards in front of her.

Andrew Stranex, prosecuting, said that the victim's son was staying with her at her home in Lupset, Wakefield, at the time of the incident on November 20 last year.

He left the property to go to work at around 8.30am while the victim was still in bed.

She then heard a noise and her bedroom door open.

The pensioner turned over to find two men standing over her bed wearing socks on their hands.

One told her: "We have come for the money. We know you have a couple of grand."

Mr Stranex said they threatened her and searched her bedroom, a box room and an airing cupboard.

Read more: West Yorkshire solicitor defrauded vulnerable client of more than £200,000 in a bid to save his failing legal firm They went through her jewellery box and took an eternity ring and the engagement ring.

They also took her mobile phone, bank cards, a games console and £180 in cash.

They asked her if she had any drugs and she handed them a bag of medication.

It was then that she asked for water so she could take her heart medication.

They took her downstairs where the bowl of water was thrown at her.

But before they left, they ripped the landline phone off the wall and warned her not to call the police.

CCTV footage was obtained which showed a second man, David Magee, withdrawing cash from the victim's account at a machine at Morrisons on Dewsbury Road, just minutes after the incident.

Gledhill then approached the machine and withdrew cash.

A total of £500 was withdrawn from the victim's account.

Keys from the victim's property were found in a bin at his house.

Gledhill was also arrested in possession of cash.

Both men refused to comment when interviewed by police officers.

Gledhill was picked out of a line-up by the victim and his DNA was found on the knife.

Gledhill, 32, of Fenton Walk, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to robbery.

He has 12 convictions for 15 offences, including robbery and dwelling burglaries.

Magee, 38, of Waterton Road, Lupset, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods.

He has 27 previous convictions for 50 offences, including handling stolen goods.

A victim described in a statement how she is now afraid to be alone and scared to answer the door.

Referring to the recent loss of her husband, she added: "It could not have happened at a worse time for my family.

"It makes me upset to talk about the incident and I tear up."

Kate Bisset, mitigating for both defendants, said Gledhill had offered an early guilty plea and accepted that the offence was "horrifying".

She said he came from a happy and stable home but suffers from ADHD and would self-medicate with drugs.

Judge Andrews Stubbs QC said: "She was petrified. She was threatened and forced to hand over the PIN codes for her cards.

"Her house was ransacked with drawers and cupboards tipped out and thrown over the floor.

"She says she felt like she had been raped. This is the kind of devastation it has on people."

Gledhill was jailed for nine years and told he must serve at least six years before being considered for parole.

Magee was jailed for three months.