TWO alcoholics committed a “despicable crime” in burgling the home of an 81-year-old woman who had died in a house fire.

Terry Peacock and Paul Worman broke into the house in Samphire Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, on New Year’s Day, 48 hours after Evelyn White had died in a fire there.

The drunken pair, who were armed with a machete, stole alcohol and medication before being confronted by Mrs White’s son Clive and a concerned neighbour.

Peacock, 37, and Worman, 34, denied burglary but were found guilty of the charge at Oxford Crown Court on Friday. They were jailed for three years each.

Recorder Rebecca Crane labelled it a “despicable crime” and said: “A family that were grieving after a terrible event had to deal with the emotional trauma of the housing being burgled.”

Peacock, who was living in the same street at the time, was found in a drunken stupor on the sofa and grabbed the machete when confronted by Mr White and the neighbour.

In restraining him, Peacock was given two black eyes and a broken jaw.

Responding to claims by his barrister that Peacock had suffered “immediate and direct punishment” Ms Crane said: “Mr White Jnr was doing no more than defending himself when confronted by someone with a weapon.”

The trial was told the pair had smashed a back door window and unlocked the door in an attempt to find more alcohol after drinking all day.

Spirits, frozen food, a slow cooker and medication belonging to Mrs White’s husband were stolen.

Sarah Smith, defending Peacock who has 15 previous offences to his name, said he was an alcoholic who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the Army for seven years.

She said he had witnessed “extreme warfare”, had been stabbed and shot at and had been forced to shoot dead a female bomber at point-blank range in Baghdad.

Meanwhile, Anthony Wyatt, defending Worman, of Knight’s Road, Blackbird Leys, said he too was an alcoholic, with 18 previous offences to his name, but was “not the same man as he was in January”.

Investigating officer Pc Charlie Ellis said: “We are happy with the verdict of the jury and more happy with the sentence.

“It was a pretty appalling crime at a very traumatic time for the victims.” In my opinion, had the defendants been sober they would probably not have committed this crime, but being drunk doesn’t excuse their behaviour.”