A WIDOW robbed by a prolific burglar has described his jail sentence of four years as "diabolical".

Irene Wilson-Mayor, aged 83, says Simon Moran, should be jailed for longer.

Moran, aged 38, of Nevis Grove, Astley Bridge, used the M65 as a "corridor of crime" to commit 114 burglaries, mainly in East Lancashire. He left his victims - mostly elderly women - terrified after continuing with the burglaries even when they discovered him in their homes.

He was finally caught after leaving a bead of sweat on a bag in Mrs Wilson-Mayor's home. That gave police a DNA match.

Moran had knocked the widow backwards when she confronted him in her house.

After Moran was sentenced at Preston Crown Court yesterday, Mrs Wilson-Mayor said: "I think the sentence is diabolical. He wants putting away for longer, but unfortunately this is what it is like today."

Moran had got into Mrs Wilson-Mayor house by quietly removing the lock on her front door in the early hours of July 26 this year.

At the time, she was getting ready for bed in an upstairs bathroom.

As she did every night, the great grandmother had packed her valuables into a plastic bag.

When she turned to see Moran standing there, he grabbed the bag from her, knocking her backwards.

She said: "I heard creeping footsteps and I called out my son's name.

"He answered Yes' and then he was just there in the bathroom door. He pushed me back and grabbed the bag.

"It was still total darkness and he went round the bedroom.

"I went downstairs, put the lights on to see if he was anywhere, but he had gone.

"I was shocked, but also annoyed that he would dare to go into my own home."

She added: "I now lock the door in the day. I never used to draw my living room curtains, but I do now."

Moran, a crack cocaine addict, had wiped his forehead with a glove in her home.

The bead of sweat that fell on to a bag was matched to a 2001 DNA sample given to police.

Moran admitted a total of 114 burglaries. Yesterday he was sentenced for six of them - in Darwen, Whalley, Padiham , Rossendale and two in Chorley - with the other 108 taken into account, The court heard that burglary technique involved removing locks from front doors and stealing cash, jewellery and porcelain.

Richard Hunt, defending, told the court that when confronted by householders Moran "did not choose to turn and run. He stayed, held his corner and continued".

Mr Hunt said Moran wanted to "wipe the slate clean" by confessing to the crimes. He had gone back to "old ways" to pay off crack cocaine debts.

The detective who led the investigation said Moran was the most prolific burglar he had ever come across.

Detective Constable Chris McCreadie, of Blackburn CID, said: "He was a determined and prolific burglar who targeted elderly people."

He said Moran would have continued the burglaries at the same rate if he had not been stopped.