North East burglar jailed after hitting elderly man with a hammer in 'terrifying' attack

Aggravated burglar Michael Ainsley - jailed over hitting a Chester-le-Street pensioner with a hammer (Image: Durham Constabulary)

A Chester-le-Street burglar hit an elderly man with a hammer and demanded he give him drugs. Vicious Michael Ainsley, 41, has now been jailed for six years.

In September this year, Ainsley broke into the home of his elderly victim and demanded to know where "the gear" was. His victim told him he did not have any - but in response the criminal hit him in the hand with the hammer and "ransacked" the Chester-le-Street property.

He left empty-handed, police said. Neighbourhood police officers from Durham Constabulary attended the scene and supported the victim, before identifying Ainsley from footage of the incident. He was subsequently arrested.

After ref