An 82-year-old West Sussex woman confronted an intruder in her home with a hammer, a court has been told.

The plucky pensioner had been burgled twice before John James Hunter targeted her home in East Preston, West Sussex, in April 2001.

She heard glass smash during the night of the break-in. Deciding that enough was enough, she picked up the hammer and went to investigate.

London's Court of Appeal, where Hunter was yesterday trying to get his five-year jail sentence for burglary and assault reduced, heard that the 24-year-old "lunged towards her, telling her to be quiet".

Even though she saw that Hunter, of Drummornie Road, Cairneyhill, Fife, was carrying a crowbar, the woman "swung the hammer at him" and was able to close her bedroom door against the intruder.

Hunter was arrested in Scotland and later pleaded guilty to assault and burglary. He received a total jail sentence of five years at Chichester Crown Court in May, last year.

Lawyers for Hunter argued that the jail term was too harsh.

He also claimed he was pressured into committing the burglary by criminal associates.

But Mrs Justice Cox, sitting with Lord Justice Kay and Mr Justice Goldring, denied Hunter leave to appeal against the sentence.

She said: "It can not be properly argued that five years was manifestly excessive."

Mrs Justice Cox added that Hunter had "threatened and initially struggled" with the pensioner, who was alone at home late at night.

The case had a number of "very serious aggravating features", including the fact that the crime was premeditated and an elderly woman targeted.

She concluded: "This was an appalling offence with a number of aggravating features. Hunter forced entry into the home of an elderly woman and clearly merited a substantial sentence."