An Ipswich woman who found a burglar in her house was shocked to find court papers relating to the case had been ripped in half and posted through her letter box, a court has heard.

The victim had been at her Bramford Road home in July 2022 when she heard a noise and found Dean Knock in her house, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

She screamed at him to get out and he responded by saying he had come in because it was raining, said Richard Potts, prosecuting.

He had then moved towards her and asked her to open the door which she did.

The victim had noticed the pouch by her kitchen window where Knock had entered her house was missing.

Knock was arrested after his palm print was found on a kitchen sink near the half open window where he had entered the house.

Mr Potts said a concerning aspect of the case was that almost a year later after Knock was summonsed to court the victim found court papers relating to the case had been ripped up and posted overnight through her letter box.

Mr Potts said that this had been done by Knock or someone on his behalf as his name was on the papers and he knew the victim’s address.

Knock, 43, of Bramford Lane, Ipswich, admitted burglary.

He was given a 20-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a 12-month mental health treatment programme, a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month trail monitoring requirement.

He was also banned from contacting the victim for two years.

Adam Norris for Knock, who has 92 previous convictions, said the court papers had been delivered to Knock’s old address and he hadn’t been responsible for posting them through the victim’s letter box.

He said Knock, who had been homeless,  had a history of drug use but was now keeping away from drugs and was trying to get his life in order.

He accepted the worst part of the case was that the victim found Knock in her home but he said Knock had left the property without being violent.