A BURGLAR, who threatened to kill a woman with a knife unless she did what he said, has been jailed for almost 10 years.

Haroon Rashid, 23, attacked the 49-year-old in her home in Honeysuckle Field, Chesham, and threatened to kill her despite her attempts to offer him her handbag and car keys.

The man, who lived in the same road, was sentenced to nine years and six months at Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday, October 10, after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated burglary.

He attacked the victim on Monday, March 3, after entering a flat at about 7pm.

As the victim returned home she heard the communal door of the flats slam shut behind her and turned to see Rashid in the hallway.

He then pushed the victim into the kitchen, pulled her onto the floor and said he would kill her unless she did what he said, before he continued to threaten her with a kitchen knife.

According to police, the victim offered Rashid her handbag and car keys but he did not react and continued to hold the knife against her throat.

She then managed to fight him off and ran outside to raise the alarm.

The attacker fled the scene with the victim’s handbag and ran towards Chesham Cemetery.

Police said Rashid was identified through DNA found on an item of lady’s underwear which was left on a pathway adjacent to Chesham Cemetery.

A lady’s sock was also found at this location and a matching sock was located at Rashid’s home address.

Items from the victim’s handbag which identified her were also found on the pathway by Chesham Cemetery.

It is believed that Rashid was wearing the undergarment as a scarf during the aggravated burglary, officers added.

Rashid had faced four further charges for burglary, committed in the month prior to his arrest, but after his guilty plea for aggravated burglary, these offences were placed on file by the court, although his history of committing burglary offences was taken into account in sentencing.

Investigating Officer Det Con Stephen West, from Amersham Force CID, said: “I am extremely pleased with the outcome of this case and grateful to those police officers and members of public who assisted in bringing this offender to justice.

“I am indebted to the victim, who, despite the ordeal she suffered, has fully supported the police investigation throughout.”