Two burglars trapped by evidence from "beyond the grave" risk being sent to jail.

Jonathan Staal was convicted of the raid on a widow's home after a jury heard evidence from a woman who has since died.

Mrs Anna Dalloway, aged 49, told police that Staal and her lodger, Andrew Richards, carried out the break-in on a neighbour's house after a drinking session.

Prosecutor Tariq Shakoor read out Mrs Dalloway's statement and said after making it she had later died from liver failure.

Staal, aged 28, of Yew Tree Drive, Bromsgrove, was found guilty of burglary.

Richards, 20, of Winforton Close, Redditch, pleaded guilty to burglary before the trial at Worcester Crown Court began.

The men were among five people who went to Mrs Dalloway's house, in Winforton Close, after leaving a pub.

Richards got excited by the prospect of the break-in at the home of Mrs Nicola McIntosh, who was asleep in bed. Her husband had recently died.

Her front door was smashed in on April 21 this year and 35 CDs and cassette tapes stolen.

Staal dropped a stereo onto a path after Mrs McIntosh woke up and began screaming and banging a neighbour's wall for help.

Police arrested the defendants shortly afterwards at Mrs Dalloway's. Some CDs were dumped in her garden and one was found under furniture.

Staal, who had a criminal record for violence and public disorder, lied that he never left the house and dozed off from the alcohol.

Mrs Dalloway said the burglars came 'flying' back into her house after the raid.

Mrs Ursula James, another visitor to the house, told the jury Richards put socks on his hands and feet to carry out the break-in.

She said he got "a buzz" out of burgling a house which was occupied at night.

Recorder Graham Cliff freed Staal on bail for a pre-sentence report but warned he risked jail.

He and Richards will be both sentenced together at a date to be fixed.