A PENSIONER who returned from an early morning walk found a stranger lying on his sofa eating a bowl of fruit salad.
When 70-year-old William Williams, who has a lung condition and has had heart bypass surgery, asked the stranger to leave, he became abusive, Mold Crown Court heard.
Kevin Robertson, of Eldon Grove, Rhostyllen, admitted burglary and common assault at Mr Williams’ home in Garth, near Llangollen, last August and was jailed for 14 months.
Emmalyne Downing, prosecuting, said: “Mr Williams took his dog for a walk and returned 20 minutes later.
"He went in through a side door and came across the defendant lying on the sofa, eating a bowl of fruit salad with his hands.
“He was shocked and asked him what he was doing. The defendant became abusive and Mr Williams asked him to go.
“Robertson at first refused and would not get up. He again asked him what he was doing and then Robertson got to his feet.”
Mr Williams “ushered” Robertson, 31, to the door but was punched in the face.
At that stage, Mr Williams picked up a garden rake as he escorted him down the garden steps and as he was leaving Robertson threatened to kill Mr Williams.
When he went back into the house Mr Williams discovered Robertson had also eaten some cold meats from his kitchen.
Steven Edwards, defending, said for the last 12 years Robertson had devoted himself to raising his 12-year-old son, of whom he had sole custody.
He rarely ever went out for a drink but on this occasion had met an army friend on leave and gone drinking in Wrexham.
At his friend’s invitation he had then gone to Garth and continued drinking home-made wine until the early hours.
“His recollection after this is patchy in the extreme,” said Mr Edwards.
He tried to make his way home but on discovering he had come out without his house keys returned to try to find his friend’s house but was so drunk he walked into Mr Williams’ home.
“Unfortunately he struck Mr Williams but it was not a well directed blow and the injury was not severe,” he said.
“This was not a premeditated burglary and occurred because of excessive drinking.”
Judge Philip Hughes told Robertson: “You went into somebody’s home and helped yourself to food.
“When you were in the house someone was upstairs and whose husband had been out taking the dog for a walk.
“Your offence is made worse by the fact that when you were confronted by the householder you used violence by punching him and as you left you threatened to kill him.”
The judge said it was an aggravating feature that the man’s wife was upstairs and the householder was in his 70s and in “frail health”.
The incident had obviously had a huge impact on Mr Williams, said Judge Hughes.