AN ELDERLY man died just weeks after his home was burgled by a neighbour and Christmas presents stolen, a court was told.

John Johnson, who lived with his wife Margaret in Parr Avenue, Gillingham, suffered a fatal heart attack.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that the pensioner had always been a fit man who did not suffer any heart problems. He had been registered disabled because of a knee replacement, but was very active.

On the evening he died, in February this year, the arrival of an ambulance and police car was greeted by a crowd of boys outside their home, jumping up and down and cheering.

In a statement read to the court, 70-year-old Mrs Johnson said: “There is no doubt in my mind that his death was caused by the burglary.”

The man who broke into their home while they were enjoying a game of bingo was Roy Scott. The 23-year-old, who lived across the road, was said to have waged a campaign of harassment against the couple. This included being verbally abusive to Mrs Johnson.

James Tucker, prosecuting, told the court: "Over the past five years there has been what can only be described as harassment by Roy Scott, who has accosted her in the street, calling her a grass and an old cow."

Scott admitted burglary and was jailed for two-and-a-half years. The court heard that he was at the time on licence for an offence of theft, having been released from prison just two months earlier. He was also ordered to serve four months of that sentence, making a total of 34 months.

Jailing him, Mr Recorder David Griffith-Jones QC said his behaviour had been “quite despicable”.

He added: “This was an offence which targeted an elderly couple and involved a violation of their home and the theft of Christmas presents and other items.

"I say that you targeted them. It is clear that this is the case from what I have heard."

Recorder Griffith-Jones continued: "Whether Mrs Johnson is right in her conviction that his death is something to do with your actions, I make no finding, although her views on it are perfectly understandable.

"Her statement also refers to the history going back some years, but more particularly the abuse which you have directed towards her and her husband subsequent to this offence."

On the afternoon of December 15, Mr and Mrs Johnson went to bingo, leaving their doors and windows locked. They returned home to find the upstairs bathroom window open and some of the items they had bought as Christmas presents for their family stolen. Scott's fingerprints were found on the window.

The following Sunday a wallet, minus its cash and bank cards, was returned to Mrs Johnson by the girlfriend of Roy Scott's brother.

"Not only had it ruined their Christmas, but she believes this burglary caused the death of her husband," said Mr Tucker. "Whether it did or not, the victim firmly believes it did."

The court also heard that Mr Johnson had been affected by the pressure of it all, feeling angry and frustrated and that he had not been able to protect his wife.

Describing the history of problems she and her husband had suffered from the Scott family, Mrs Johnson added in her statement: "My husband and I have been through hell."

In the weeks following the burglary, Scott continued to behave aggressively towards them.

After being arrested for the burglary, Mr Tucker told the court, Scott was very aggressive to the police, shouting and swearing at them. On seeing Mrs Johnson's daughter, he shouted to her: "I'll be out later. I'll get you."

The judge rejected a plea on behalf of Scott for a drug treatment and testing order, saying the offence was so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified.

He added that if Scott was motivated to break his drug habit then he would have the opportunity while serving his sentence.

"It is said that you express remorse," he said. "I take that into account but I also note that it is easy to express remorse in the circumstances in which you find yourself."

Scott was said to have a number of previous convictions, including several house burglaries and other offences of dishonesty.

The court was told that last month he was sentenced by Medway magistrates to 80 days in jail for destroying property and 150 days concurrent for assault on police, arising from his behaviour on the day of his arrest.

Navaz Darawalla, defending, said this was clearly a very tragic case and that Scott was sorry for his actions.

"He says he has never really considered his offending in the past but this has made him think,” she told the court. “He has a heroin and cocaine habit, and no doubt until that habit is resolved his offending will continue. For the first time in his life he has said he wants to change."

She said Scott, who is to become a father in July, had Mr Johnson’s death on his conscience.