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| Burglar jailed for widow attack | Burglar jailed for widow attack |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A burglar who beat a 76-year-old widow unconscious in her own home has been jailed for a minimum of eight years. | A burglar who beat a 76-year-old widow unconscious in her own home has been jailed for a minimum of eight years. |
| Steven Nicoll, 26, of Waunarlwydd in Swansea, attacked Annie Williams during a break-in last September. | Steven Nicoll, 26, of Waunarlwydd in Swansea, attacked Annie Williams during a break-in last September. |
| He had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the pensioner, known to friends as Nancy. | He had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the pensioner, known to friends as Nancy. |
| Sentencing him at Swansea Crown Court Judge John Diehl QC described the attack as "sheer evil" and told Nicoll he was a danger to the public. | Sentencing him at Swansea Crown Court Judge John Diehl QC described the attack as "sheer evil" and told Nicoll he was a danger to the public. |
| The court heard during the attack Mrs Williams, who was a friend of Nicoll's grandmother, suffered massive facial injuries. | The court heard during the attack Mrs Williams, who was a friend of Nicoll's grandmother, suffered massive facial injuries. |
| Her face was swollen beyond recognition and her nose, cheekbone and jaw were fractured. | Her face was swollen beyond recognition and her nose, cheekbone and jaw were fractured. |
| Steven Nicoll's actions were described as "sheer evil" | |
| On the night of the attack she had gone to bed as normal but was woken in the early hours by being punched in the face. | On the night of the attack she had gone to bed as normal but was woken in the early hours by being punched in the face. |
| In a statement she gave police, which was read out in court, she described how her attacker was so close she could feel his breath on her. | In a statement she gave police, which was read out in court, she described how her attacker was so close she could feel his breath on her. |
| She begged him to stop but he continued until she lost consciousness. She was found by her sister-in-law lying on the floor of her bedroom around 12 hours later. | She begged him to stop but he continued until she lost consciousness. She was found by her sister-in-law lying on the floor of her bedroom around 12 hours later. |
| Nicoll stole just £50 from her handbag and her car which he drove away and set on fire. | Nicoll stole just £50 from her handbag and her car which he drove away and set on fire. |
| Extracts of her victim impact statement were read out in court in which she said her life had been "devastated". | Extracts of her victim impact statement were read out in court in which she said her life had been "devastated". |
| The court heard she knew Nicoll through his grandmother. | The court heard she knew Nicoll through his grandmother. |
| "I can't understand how someone I've known since a teenager could be so evil as to break into my home while I was asleep and beat me so violently," said Mrs Williams. | "I can't understand how someone I've known since a teenager could be so evil as to break into my home while I was asleep and beat me so violently," said Mrs Williams. |
| It must have been and probably still is a living nightmare Judge John Diehl QC | |
| Mrs Williams said she was now nervous of being at home, especially at night, and that she's been left disfigured causing her distress every time she looked in the mirror. | Mrs Williams said she was now nervous of being at home, especially at night, and that she's been left disfigured causing her distress every time she looked in the mirror. |
| She also suffers from double vision and hearing problems. | She also suffers from double vision and hearing problems. |
| Judge Diehl told Nicoll: "I find it difficult to adequately express what you did to her, the sheer evil of it, it must have been and probably still is a living nightmare. | Judge Diehl told Nicoll: "I find it difficult to adequately express what you did to her, the sheer evil of it, it must have been and probably still is a living nightmare. |
| "There's no justification or excuse. You left her there to suffer and bleed, you didn't care, she could have died." | "There's no justification or excuse. You left her there to suffer and bleed, you didn't care, she could have died." |
| Judge Diehl read a statement from the sister-in-law who found her. She described Mrs Williams injuries as being so bad she could hardly tell it was her. | Judge Diehl read a statement from the sister-in-law who found her. She described Mrs Williams injuries as being so bad she could hardly tell it was her. |
| Sentencing him Judge Diehl said it was an act of "horrific savagery carried out by an intoxicated brute". | |
| Nicoll was given an indeterminate sentence, the judge said to protect the public. | Nicoll was given an indeterminate sentence, the judge said to protect the public. |
| He must serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for parole. | He must serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for parole. |