A DISABLED woman who was beaten and robbed in her own home by a drug-fuelled teenager has described how she thought she was going to die during the savage attack.

Wheelchair user Sian Thomas, 45, was targeted by 19-year-old Kyle Solowyk who entered her Vale of Glamorgan home with his face covered last November intending to rob the Multiple Sclerosis sufferer.

When he was confronted, he attacked Ms Thomas, punching her, stamping on her and telling her he had a knife before fleeing with £600.

Serial offender Solowyk was jailed for nine years at Cardiff Crown Court this week.

Speaking after the sentencing Ms Thomas explained how it felt to be targeted by a neighbour she had known since he was a little boy.

"Although I thought he was in custody [for a previous offence] at the time," she said, "I had no doubt that it was him who broke into my bedroom as I have known him since he was around nine years old, before his behaviour began to escalate out of control.

"Although many individuals in my situation would never have tried to stop a thief, I did because I knew who it was.

"Not once did I say his name as I believed things could escalate even further if I did, however, I still did not expect Solowyk to attack me as viciously as he did."

Having been punched to the ground, Ms Thomas was punched twice more and viciously stamped on by Solowyk.

"At one point seeing the amount of blood on my body, arms and clothing I thought I was going to die," she said.

"It was only Solowyk informing me that he had a knife and would use it that brought me to my senses and the fact that I had been put onto the floor and my legs had stopped working.

"The pain of being smashed in the face with a fist three times will never leave me.

"Although there were no facial fractures it took four to six weeks for the swelling, bruising and pain to go away."

Ms Thomas, of Winston Road, Barry, said that as well as suffering physical damage during the attack she has also suffered psychological trauma from being assaulted in her own home.

She said: "I am not sure how long the psychological pain will take to go away but I will not give him the pleasure of thinking that I have been too severely affected by his actions.

"Yes there have been times when I wish Solowyk had just finished me off and used his knife, however it is in those moments that I remember that I have control over what he can take from me.

"I am and always have been a survivor. I am still the same person I was before the assault, albeit battered, bruised and saddened.

"In fact I have been made even stronger and I am sure in time I will use this strength to be the happy, vibrant, caring and stubborn woman I once was.

"No one, including Solowyk, will break my spirit."