A man has been jailed for eight years for his part in a violent burglary in which a woman was stabbed with a screwdriver.

Patrick O’Leary, 21, of Carmelite Road, Harrow, was sentenced on Monday at Wood Green Crown Court, for his part in the burglary of a 67-year-old woman at her home in Huntingdon Road, East Finchley.

On the morning of February 20 the victim heard banging at her door, and as she went to open it three men burst in, two of them running upstairs.

She tried to make her escape but one of the men held her arm and slammed it in the front door.

The burglar then took her to the bedroom upstairs, forcing her to hand over £600 in cash and then demanding to know where the jewellery was before stabbing her in the face with the screwdriver.

The burglary was interrupted when two workmen came to the door after seeing the men force their way into the house.

All three burglars ran off but the workmen grabbed one of them before he could get away.

In the struggle one of the workmen was stabbed in the leg, shoulder and buttocks with a screwdriver, and when the other two attackers came back the workman let him go.

In April, O’ Leary was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

He pleaded guilty to all offences except causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but after a trial lasting three days, a jury unanimously found him guilty.

Detective Constable Yogini Patel, of Barnet police's serious acquisitive crime unit, said: "I am pleased that O’Leary has received a lengthy custodial sentence.

“This is a particularly violent burglary that could have been worse had it not been for the courageous efforts of the two workmen.”