THE prison sentences given to two men who bound an elderly woman to her stairs and threw a pillowcase over her head while they ransacked her house will not be changed.

Eriks Valants, 23, and Jed Martin, 27 were each jailed for 10 years at Winchester Crown Court after they admitted to an of offence robbery which took place in Leckford, near Stockbridge, on March 23, last year.

A request was made to the Attorney General’s Office to look into the case and see if their sentences were ‘unduly lenient’.

Their sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal but following a review the court decided that they will be unchanged. No further details have been given as to why their sentences were not changed.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office said: “The Solicitor General referred Eriks Valants and Jed Martin’s sentences to the Court of Appeal because she considered them to be too low. There are no guarantees that sentences we refer will be increased. We can, however, be assured that they will be thoroughly tested. The Solicitor respects the decision of the court.”

Their victim was 72-year-old Susan Hunt, who was woken by masked men, shining a torch into her face and asking her for the code for her safe.

They then walked her down the stairs, putting black tape around her hands – tying her to the banister – before putting a pillowcase over her head.

Andrew Houston, prosecuting, said that Mrs Hunt said it “felt like hours” that they were in her home, which left her feeling “traumatised, disoriented and scared”.

The men stole cash and jewellery including a Cartier ring, Omega watch, three string pearl necklace and David Morris pearl and diamond necklace with matching earrings, worth around £215,000.

They also took her father-in-law’s Military Cross medal from the Second World War, with a letter signed by King George. None of the items were ever recovered.