A distraught burglary victim, who took an overdose after her home was raided twice in a week, is living in fear that she could be targeted again.

The 28-year-old, who is too frightened to be identified, was so shocked by the double break-in she swallowed anti-depressants and painkillers.

She did not suffer any serious harm but is worried she will become a victim again after at least eight burglaries in the converted house where she lives.

Now the housing association which owns the property is taking steps to boost security to protect the residents.

The woman, who lives on the ground floor of the house, which is divided into eight flats, in Mornington Villas, Manningham , Bradford, was out at work when the first burglary took place. She was also out when the same man, who was later jailed, broke in again and stole her belongings. Each time he smashed her window to get in.

Her boyfriend said: “She was devastated after the second burglary. She took some tablets and said she just wanted to escape the shock and devastation. She was sat in the hall shaking and crying.”

He said her next-door neighbour, a man in his late-60s, who has since moved, had been burgled five times, and there had also been an attempted burglary at another flat in the same building.

He said: “She thinks she is going to be next. She can’t go out without thinking she is going to be burgled.”

A spokesman for Yorkshire Housing said: “We have spoken to the lady to discuss the issue with the burglaries at her flat.

“One of our Neighbourhood Officers then went to make an assessment on the property. It was decided that she required a new door which is to have extra locks and a communal door needed to be replaced.

“On Thursday, August 23, one of our maintenance surveyors went to the property to measure the doors and these have now been ordered. For extra security, bars are being specially made for her windows. We are also installing extra alarms in her home once the doors and window bars have been fitted.

“The safety of our tenants is important to us and at Yorkshire Housing we will go to great lengths to ensure that our tenants feel secure and comfortable in their own homes.”