A burglar who broke into the home of a bed-bound, disabled pensioner before raping her has been jailed for life.

Michael Hanmore was linked to the attack at a property in Queenborough Road, Halfway, Sheppey, after police discovered a used condom on the floor of the 73-year-old victim’s bedroom.

On May 7, 2022, the drug addict, who was living at a hostel just 160m down the road, broke into the house where he spent just over an hour stealing items and attacking the elderly woman, who has since passed away.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how the convicted sex offender went into her room and told her to “shut up” as she screamed for help, before jumping on her and raping her.

Hanmore, who was 43 at the time, then stamped on her, resulting in several injuries, before rummaging through her room looking for cash and asking if she had a car.

The victim, who had grown up with polio and was diagnosed with cancer a year before the life-changing incident, required four visits a day from nursing staff.

At around 9am, staff from the Welcome Home practice arrived at her home and noticed her mobility car – which she hadn’t used for some time – was missing.

Upon entering the victim’s room, the OAP told her she was glad to see her and how a balaclava-clad man had “broke into her bungalow and jumped on her”.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, she detailed how she had been a “strong and independent woman” her whole life, despite living with her disability, and retired to Kent in 2004.

“I had a simple and happy life until that night,” it added. “I am terrified by night and day.

“Life has never broken me until now. This man has broken me. All I can see is his face in a balaclava. I can feel him on me.

“I want to be able to smile again, but now I just cry. I knew the world could be a cruel place, but not this cruel.”

She said how all she wanted to do during the attack was run away but was unable to, before adding: “I don’t want him to hurt anyone else in the same way.”

Her son told the court of the “deep trauma” his family had suffered.

Reading a statement he had written while his mum was still alive, he said the attack “completely destroyed” her life.

“He raped and beat a defenceless, fragile woman,” he explained. “A woman who could not move from the bed she laid in.

“Although she still breathes, he has essentially killed her.”

Previously, KentOnline reported how officers arrived at the bungalow and spent several days at the property.

Hanmore, who was arrested after being linked by his semen in the condom, was charged with rape, burglary and theft.

A month after the incident, he pleaded guilty and a sentencing hearing was scheduled to take place on September 6, 2022.

However, a long delay ensued after he made an application to change his plea for rape as he maintained it was only attempted rape.

This was rejected and the matter returned to court for sentencing today (Tuesday, May 20).

Prosecutor Daniel Wright told the court how the victim was “powerless” to stop Hanmore’s sex attack as she had no muscles in her legs and couldn’t move.

He added how the victim saw the career criminal stuffing cash into his pockets before taking her iPad and phone.

He was tracked down and arrested in Hackney, east London, on May 8 after driving the stolen car to the capital.

Analysis of his mobile phone showed it had been in the same locations as the victim’s car.

After he fled, the pensioner managed to pull herself into a bedside wheelchair and wheeled herself into another room, where she discovered the conservatory door was open.

However, she was unable to report the crime as the defendant had stolen her phone and her landline wasn’t working.

Hanmore was on licence at the time of the offence, having been released from prison the year before after being convicted in 2006 for the sexual penetration of a Vietnamese student in London.

The court was told how in June 2005 the young woman was walking home when she decided to cross the road after seeing a man – later identified as 27-year-old Hanmore – on a bike in the street.

As she entered the communal area of her property, he bundled his way in and grabbed her by the neck and pushed her to the ground before sexually assaulting her.

It was only after two members of the public heard the woman’s scream and tried to help, that Hanmore fled on a bike.

He was chased down the road and dropped the purse, which had his DNA on it and was used to link him to the crime.

Passing sentence, Judge Oliver Saxby KC today determined Hanmore was a “dangerous” person for a number of reasons.

Explaining why, he said: “The nature and extent of the offences committed on the [elderly woman] – what you did defies reason and reveals you as a man apparently without a shred of humanity.

“Your lack of remorse, contrition and shame for those offences. Your previous convictions for like offending.

“The nature and extent of your desire to exert power and control over vulnerable people, by using sexual violence.

“Your unwillingness to use rehabilitative assistance. Your willingness to countenance the commission of serious offences [a reference to ‘slitting someone’s neck’]. Your complete lack of empathy and insight.”

He was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of eight years and 355 days – which has been reduced due to the three years he has spend in prison already – before he is eligible for a parole hearing.

Hanmore, who was already on the sexual offenders’ register, was given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Kath Way said: “There can be few things as terrifying as someone breaking into your home in the middle of the night before attacking you in your own bedroom.

“That is exactly what Michael Hanmore put his elderly and disabled victim through, without any thought for the severe trauma his actions would cause to her, her family and friends

“I am very pleased he has been sentenced to life imprisonment, which is entirely appropriate for the dreadful crimes he committed and will ensure he no longer poses a threat to innocent members of the public.

“He is clearly a very dangerous man who belongs behind bars.”