A CRAZED burglar got more than he bargained for when he came face to face with a sword-wielding pensioner.

The half-naked teenager, who had smashed his way through the glass front door, was confronted by former Fleet Air Arm Lieutenant Ian Herbert, 76.

The yob made a bid to escape, but ran straight into the blade of a 24-inch ceremonial sword.

Stunned, he fell back onto a sofa waited while Mr Herbert waited for police to arrive at the house in Southsea Avenue, Minster, near Sheerness.

The drama unfolded when Mr Herbert's 73-year-old wife, Rose, in pain through arthritis in her legs, came downstairs to make a cup of tea.

See this week's Sheerness Times Guardian for the full story.