A SINGLE mum and her children are living in fear after a burglar sneaked into their Weymouth home while they were asleep.

Nicola Donaldson and her sons were in bed when Daniel Sandison got in through a back door and stole a laptop, two mobile phones, a computer game, cash and a child’s Doctor Who wallet.

Sandison has now been jailed but Miss Donaldson said the experience had left the family traumatised and unable to sleep at night.

She spoke as proposals are being mooted to treat burglars more severely in the courts.

Miss Donaldson, of Littlemoor, said Sandison’s 32-month jail sentence did not reflect the crimes he had committed.

Sandison, 28, was handed a 32-month jail term last week after admitting burglary and asking for 13 other burglaries to be taken into consideration.

All the break-ins were carried out within streets of his home in Chaffinch Close in Littlemoor between February 25 and April 14.

Sandison told police he started carrying out the burglaries after his relationship with his children’s mother broke down and he started taking heroin again.

Miss Donaldson, 32, was at home with her three sons Cainan, nine, Joseph, 12, and Simon, 14, when the burglary happened.

Her other son Bobby, 10, was staying at a friend’s house and initially refused to come home when he heard what happened because he was so frightened.

He was persuaded to return but Bobby and two of his brothers have had trouble sleeping ever since.

Bobby said: “I didn’t want to come home because I’d be too scared and I thought he might come back.”

Miss Donaldson said: “It’s affected the boys more but now I need to double check the doors.

“He took Christmas presents that I worked hard all last year saving for and the thought of someone being in your house while you’re in bed is even worse.

“What would’ve happened if one of the children had come downstairs?”

When Miss Donaldson’s 12-year-old son Joseph woke up later on the morning of April 9 he told his mum she must have left the door wide open the night before.

“I thought nothing of it and was getting ready for work but when I looked for my handbag it wasn’t there,” she said.

“Then all of a sudden I noticed my phone and other things were gone.”

She added: “Joseph’s phone and Nintendo DSI game were his main Christmas presents.

“The burglar probably sold them for a bag of heroin.

“What gave him the right to come into our house while we were asleep?

“This has left my children traumatised.”

The Sentencing Council, a public body which includes a team of judges, has drawn up plans to call on courts to give priority to the impact burglars have had on their victims when deciding on their punishment.

They also want to change the maximum term for burglars from four years to six years.

Miss Donaldson said Sandison should have been given longer.

She said: “I don’t think he’s been given enough for the impact he’s had on us and other people.

“He’s gone into people’s homes while they are asleep.

“He was just skulking around in the middle of the night and I don’t know how someone has the cheek to do that.

“It’s the thought of him coming in while you are in bed. I don’t think he cares who he’s done it to.

“How would he feel if it happened to his family or to him?”