A MOTHER has apologised for her son’s ‘horrendous’ actions after he traumatised a 91-year-old man by robbing him at his home.

Wendy Smith told the SNJ her son Kevin McLarnon, pictured, deserved longer in prison than the six years he was given.

McLarnon, of Nouncells Cross in Stroud, spent an hour in William Lewis’ home, threatening him and searching for loot.

When the 39-year-old eventually left, he stole Mr Lewis’ wallet and bank cards and his late wife and late sister’s jewellery.

After the ordeal, Mr Lewis became ill and had to move out of his family home of more than 40 years to live in residential care.

Mrs Smith, who works as a carer in Dursley, told the SNJ: “What he has done is absolutely horrendous.

“I would like to apologise so, so much to the family of Mr Lewis. It is just awful what he has done and I say that as a carer, too.

“If there is anything I could do for the family of Mr Lewis, I would do it.”

She said her son had a drug problem.

On Friday, Gloucester Crown Court heard McLarnon has 58 previous offences and was a ‘third strike’ burglar.

He received a four-year jail term for burglary in 2003.

After coming out of prison for burglary offences in 2014, McLarnon went to live with his mother in Dursley where he stayed out of trouble for seven months.

“The biggest mistake he made was moving to Stroud,” said Mrs Smith, 57. “He got in with the wrong crowd.”

She added: “He is very lucky to have only got six years. I would have liked it to have been longer.”

McLarnon pleaded guilty to robbing Mr Lewis on April 1 and burgling two houses with intent to steal on April 21.

He was jailed for six years by Recorder Jeremy Barnes who told him: “What you did had a simply appalling effect on Mr Lewis.”

McLarnon, appearing via video link from Hewell Prison, had denied the offences but changed his pleas.

Prosecutor Janine Wood said Mr Lewis was asleep at home at 2.20am when he woke to see McLarnon standing in his room.

“He kept asking for money,” she said. “He pushed Mr Lewis out of the way so he could take some items from the shelves. He also opened a bureau in the living room. The victim could also hear banging in other rooms.

“After 20 minutes, the defendant returned to his room and said ‘If I can’t get what I want I’ll be back.’”

Police found McLarnon’s DNA in the house and Mr Lewis identified him from photos. Before he could be apprehended, he broke into two houses in Park Road, Stroud on April 21.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Lewis said: “To wake up and find a stranger in my house was absolutely terrifying. I am scared to go home so have been forced to live in residential care.

“I now have to spend my family’s inheritance on being looked after. I am devastated by the loss of my late wife’s jewellery.”