A BURGLARY victim said she is selling her home of 35 years because she no longer feels safe.

In a victim statement read out in court on behalf of Carole Ball, she said she was now considering quitting her home in Abergavenny after more than £1,700, which she was saving for a wedding, was stolen while she was at work on November 29, 2012.

Prolific burglar Jason Archibald, 38, of St Andrews Crescent, Abergavenny was sentenced to four years in prison for the burglary, after pleading guilty at Cardiff Crown Court.

The court heard Archibald, who has 34 convictions for 89 previous offences, 71 of those for burglary and theft, stole two Asda green and white carrier bags of cash, including notes and coins, which the victim had been saving for around 18 months.

Reading out Ms Ball’s statement to the court, prosecution barrister Jane Rowley said: “She doesn’t feel safe in her own home and nowsuffers from anxiety.

She has now made the decision to sell her house, as she no longer feels safe there.”

Defending Archibald, Hilary Roberts said: “His education, his ability to cope with life, has very much been affected by his experiences which have led to him abusing drugs since the age of 13.”

Mr Roberts also pointed out a supporting letter from the Carats (Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare) service in prison, which said Archibald had voluntarily visited them to discuss his drug addiction while on remand.

Recorder Gerard Elias said: “The occupier had a very real impression that you were targeting her. For her that must have been a real trauma.

“Even when opportunities have been given to you [in the form of community or suspended sentences] you have not taken them.

“I have to take into account protection of the public. As you won’t learn, you must be put out of the way so you can’t commit offences of this kind, at least for a period.”

The judge said he would have imposed a sentence of five years, but said he reluctantly gave credit for the guilty plea, albeit belated, and gave credit for improvements in his attitude towards drug rehabilitation since he has been in custody.