A housebound pensioner gave evidence to a jury from her living room yesterday, in the first video link of its kind for vulnerable witnesses.

The evidence of Margaret Jeffrey, who is in her 70s, helped to secure the conviction of a thief who stole jewellery worth hundreds of pounds from her home.

Video links have been used in court proceedings in other cases, when young witnesses have appeared or in links between other courts and witness suites.

At Durham Crown Court, pensioner Margaret Jeffrey spoke to the jury through a video link installed at her home 15 miles away.

The trial centred around the theft of jewellery from her North-East flat.

Mark Spalding, 35, of Newstead Court, Washington, had denied a single charge of stealing jewellery worth £450 from Mrs Jeffrey's home last August. The jury convicted him and he was remanded for sentence on February 17.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: "Under new laws that came in last August, the CPS were able to arrange for a TV link from the victim's home to the court. This is the first time such a link has been used.

"Previously, such a crime might have gone unpunished if the victim was unable to attend court.

"We are quite keen for people to be aware that this technology exists and will be used in appropriate circumstan-ces."

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said that Spalding befriended Mrs Jeffrey, then stole the jewellery while visiting her at her home.

"This trusting woman was the victim of a heartless and cowardly crime at the hands of Mark Spalding, who saw an opportunity to make some easy money. He took it, regardless of what effect it would have on Mrs Jeffrey," she said.

Shortly before activating the video link, Judge Richard Lowden warned the jury not to be swayed by the unusual manner of the link or the fact that it was being used because Mrs Jeffrey was housebound.

Mrs Jeffrey, wearing a pink dressing gown, was accompanied in her home by a court official as she gave her evidence during a 34-minute link.

The system involved mini-cameras mounted on TV monitors used by Judge Lowden and both barristers, linked to a video conference unit in her home 15 miles away.

The jury, people in the public gallery and journalists were able to watch the link on separate monitors.

Mrs Jeffrey, who occasionally sobbed and had to take drinks of water as she testified, told the court that Spalding had stolen the jewellery.