A former school bursar who attacked an elderly couple on their doorstep was today jailed for eight years.

Rotarian Rose Spanswick, 59, attacked her neighbours James and Sheila Patmore at their home in Hawkenbury Way, Lewes, on November 22, last year.

James and Sheila’s son Julian, speaking after Spanswick was jailed, said: “The Rose Spanswick that stood in court today will be unrecognisable to those who would claim to know her.

“Hubris and the desperate need to keep up appearances, to avoid losing face and to maintain social status prevented her from asking for help to alleviate her worsening financial situation.

“It led her instead to try and cover up her plight by committing crimes so calculated and brutal that they could have ended the lives of two innocent and decent people - people that at any other time she would have described as friends.

“For the sake of keeping up appearances, Rose Spanswick came very close to wreaking disaster on this family.

“As it is, the physical and emotional toll will never be forgotten by the victims and close witnesses of these crimes.

“To say the effects are devastating is no understatement.

“To face the reality of having someone fight their way into your home, prepared to overcome all obstacles with the intent of stealing your possessions is almost unthinkable - to face being deliberately chosen by a 'friend' targeting your perceived vulnerabilities is incomprehensible.”

Spanswick, who previously admitted two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and one of aggravated burglary with intent, appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Mark O’Brien said: "The sentence today reflects the seriousness of the crime. The planning and delivery of the attack by Mrs Spanswick on her neighbours, was shocking to the community and people that knew both the defendant and the victims in this case."

“Mr Patmore showed extreme courage in going to the aid of his wife when the attack happened at their home especially as he believed he was defending his wife against a youth.

"It is probably through his intervention that the injuries both suffered were not more serious.

“Both Mr and Mrs Patmore have been severely affected by the incident, but reassured that their attacker was quickly arrested and detained pending her sentencing appearance today.

“Sussex Police would like to reaffirm that this was an isolated incident and an unusual crime to occur in Lewes. We would like to thank members of the public for their support to the police and family during this investigation."