A Bradford man has been jailed for six years after he subjected a vulnerable woman to a terrifying and degrading robbery in her own home.

The complainant, who lived alone in Brighouse, was woken in the early hours when David Marshall and an accomplice launched an attack on a man who had come to visit the woman’s home in January.

The beating, which the woman tried to stop, is believed to have been linked to an ongoing feud between Marshall and another man, but the victim refused to cooperate with any prosecution.

Marshall, who had previous convictions for offences including assault, affray and wounding, turned his attention to the woman after she pleaded with him to leave her friend alone.

After pushing her back onto the bed in her nightwear Marshall aimed a two-fingered gun gesture towards her head before stealing her iPad and mobile phone.

Prosecutor Adam Walker summarised a victim personal statement in which the woman described how she thought she was having a heart attack at the time of the incident.

The incident had left her feeling fearful of future problems.

“She remains in fear that Mr Marshall may return and do her further injury,” said Mr Walker.

He revealed that the stolen iPad contained important photographs and memories of a friend who had passed away.

Marshall, of Crawford Avenue, a street which runs off Halifax Road, near Odsal Top roundabout, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial yesterday to charges of robbery and perverting the course of justice.

The court heard that a few days after the robbery Marhsall had tried to persuade the victim not to go to the police.

Recorder Anthony Hawks jailed Marshall for six years and also imposed an indefinite restraining order.

The terms of the order ban Marshall from having any future contact with the complainant.

He told the 39-year-old that he had an unenviable criminal record and the robbery was an extremely serious offence.

The judge said the complainant had suddenly been confronted by Marshall and his accomplice in her bedroom.

“It is difficult to imagine anything more frightening than that,” he said.

The judge said the woman had described how the offence was going to affect her for the rest of her life.

He added that Marshall had invaded the one place where she was entitled to feel secure for his own purposes.