An illegal immigrant who terrified people living in Beulah Road, Thornton Heath, was jailed for 27 months and told he faces deportation after serving his sentence.

Ricardo Blake, 25, came to this country from Jamaica on a student visa in 2003 but over-stayed his time and has since been living in Merstham Road, Thornton Heath.

He pleaded guilty to burglary, common assault and assault with intent to resist arrest at Croydon Crown Court last Friday.

Prosecuting, Hamish Reid, said Elizabeth Psaila looked from her kitchen window on June 29 and saw Blake in her garden.

"She asked him what he was doing and he pushed into the house and punched her with force. Her husband, George, woke up to be confronted by him.

"Blake pointed his finger at him and kicked out in martial arts style. The husband blocked the kicks and there was a struggle and Blake was eventually thrust out of the house.

"He jumped over two fences into another garden. Police arrived and heard the sound of breaking glass. Officers went over the fence and saw Blake coming out of the back door of a house.

"He struggled violently and police had to use CS gas."

A witness recalled later that Blake had been "roaring like a lion".

Richard Wood, defending, said Blake was a long-standing cannabis user and an occasional crack user.

Judge Kenneth Macrae said: "The occupants of the houses must have been absolutely petrified."

The judge said it was unnecessary for him to make a recommendation for Blake's deportation as the case would be handed to the immigration authorities once his sentence had been served.