A 63-year-old woman attacked in her bedroom by a violent robber says she feels pity for him.

Her comments came after a judge imposed an indeterminate jail sentence of at least four years on 20-year-old Darren Banks.

The victim, who tried to fend off Banks and another intruder, said: "Four years is not enough for him to learn some trade or craft.

"I feel pity that he hasn't learnt to work for his own things. He knows about what he can have but not what he should be doing to earn it."

Banks attacked the woman in her bedroom after breaking into her home in May this year. He and another man pushed her in the chest with a walking stick before smashing a bottle over her face.

As blood poured down her face the criminals panicked and fled the house. Detectives identified Banks, of Selhurst, Croydon, as one of the intruders after his fingerprints were found on the inside of the living room window.

Banks, who has previous convictions for stealing cars and driving offences, was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause GBH and attempted robbery by a jury at Croydon Crown Court.

Sentencing him, Judge Waller said: "The whole quality of life of this courageous woman has been affected as the direct result of your activities that is enough to show the seriousness of the offences with which the court is dealing."

Banks had pleaded not guilty. The second attacker has not been caught.