AN elderly woman spoke of her relief yesterday after a 12-year-old thug who attacked her was order-ed to be locked up for 18 months.

But Mrs Margaret Fallon, 70, of Crook, County Durham, said the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, should have been given three to four years.

Mrs Fallon suffered two broken fingers and severe bruising after the balaclava-clad youth confronted her in her home as she watched television on November 20.

He hit her repeatedly with a wooden sweeping brush while the brave pensioner fought him off and begged him to explain why he was attacking her. He fled when she started shouting for the police.

The youth pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and aggravated burglary when he appeared before Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday. He was given a detention order.

Yesterday, Mrs Fallon, who takes medication for angina, said she had felt like "a prisoner in her own home" since the attack.

"I haven't been able to go out on a night, I'm still frightened," she said.

"I think he should have got more for what he did. But I do feel relief. It's helping me a little bit knowing he's locked up out of my sight.

"They should have named him and then everybody would know who had done it.

"I think I've been a lucky woman to come out the other side."

She also said she was relieved he had pleaded guilty and she did not have to go through the ordeal of giving evidence at a trial.