An 88-year-old dials 999 as burglar searches her room

An 88-year-old woman covertly dialled 999 as a burglar searched her bedroom for money, Mold Crown Court heard.

Floyd Rice, 39, from Bangor, had put a cloth over Beryl Williams's face as she lay in bed, but she secretly managed to call police.

When Rice realised, he tied her legs up using the phone cable, but the call remained live.

He was convicted of burglary after stealing £200 from Mrs Williams' bag, and jailed for eight years.

The court heard Mrs Williams was sleeping when the defendant entered her room and told her to be quiet at about 04:00 BST.

Rice asked her where her money was and as he began looking for it, she called police, who were able to listen in to what was happening.

The recording was played to the jury, and Mrs Williams could be heard sobbing and repeatedly saying "help me" while Rice demanded money.

A knock on the front door is then heard on the recording as police arrive and Rice flees.

Mrs Williams told officers Rice had "grabbed the phone from me and wrapped it around my legs and shoved me back on to the bed".

She tried to get up a number of times but the defendant pushed her back down.

"He was not violent. He did not hurt me, " she said. "He didn't harm me, I will say that in his favour."

John Philpotts, prosecuting, said Mrs Williams was "very scared but also very brave" in raising the alarm.