A TEENAGER who raided the homes of elderly residents while they slept in their beds has been jailed.

Over the course of four months Nathan Hennon broke into 13 homes all within one mile of his Romsey home, Southampton Crown Court heard.

The 19-year-old cried in the dock as the court was told about his crimes.

Prosecuting, Roderick Blain said Hennon had a modus operandi of smashing windows to gain entry to the homes of elderly people and, while they slept, stole cash, jewellery and sometimes keys so he could return.

The court heard the teenager returned to one home three times to burgle an elderly lady in her late 90s, and also targeted another property twice.

Mr Blain said a 70-year-old man got up on Christmas Eve to find someone had smashed a window with a concrete block before searching his home.

A fire extinguisher was also let off, damaging his TV and laptop.

In a statement, the fearful pensioner said he now locked himself in his bedroom at night so he could sleep.

Mr Blain said another lady got up on New Year’s Eve to find someone had broken into her home and had stolen £160 as well as house keys. Hennon burgled her home again twice.

He added: “Now when she gets up in the morning she feels nervous to go out and check each room to ensure no one is in her house.”

Hennon also smashed a window of an elderly couple’s home before stealing £380 from a wallet and a chequebook overnight between December 30 and December 31.

The pair, both in their 90s and housebound, have lived in the town for 48 years and have never felt frightened or nervous until now.

Defending, David Phillips said Hennon, of Cavendish Close, was out of control at the time and was being influenced by an older man who led him astray.

He added the Eastleigh College student was diagnosed with ADHD which affected his behaviour and learning, making him easily influenced.

He added since his crime spree he had been knuckling down at college, with the ambition of becoming a professional dancer, and had been volunteering at a local charity shop.

“He has shown real remorse for what he has done. He was exploited by others at the time and his mental condition makes him susceptible to being manipulated,” Mr Phillips said.

Judge Christopher Parker QC accepted Hennon’s learning disabilities made him immature, suggestible and easily led but said it did not change the fact his victims had been affected by a life-changing event during a vulnerable time in their lives.

Hennon, who pleaded guilty to 13 counts of burglary between September 2016 and January 2017, was given two years in a young offenders’ institute.