Granddaughter forces out intruder

Police released an artist's impression of the man

A woman has said an intruder threatened to rape her and her elderly grandmother in their north Belfast home.

The man entered their bungalow at about 0300 GMT on Monday at Butler Place in the Ardoyne area after 88-year-old Jane Kane answered a knock at the door.

Ciara Mullan, 24, said after she managed to force him out of the house, the man exposed himself before running off.

"It's unbearable to think what he wanted to do," she said.

Ms Mullan said she was asleep when she was awoken by loud voices.

I'm upside-down to tell you the truth - Ciara would face anybody, I'm very proud of her Jane Kane Grandmother

"I came out of my bedroom to see a young fella with my grandmother refusing to leave," she said.

"He was saying he had nowhere to go as his parents had thrown him out."

Ms Mullan said the intruder exposed himself.

"He was clearly intoxicated and was getting angry with us," she said.

"I had to shove him into the hallway, where fortunately for me he tripped over because he'd had so much to drink.

Belfast accent

"I was able to get him out into the garden where we had a struggle then he ran off."

Her grandmother, Jane Kane, said: "It was terrible - I've never known anything like that in my life.

"I'm upside-down, to tell you the truth - Ciara would face anybody, I'm very proud of her."

Police said the intruder is believed to be 26-28 years old, 5ft 8in tall, very thin, clean shaven with freckles and short or shaven dirty fair or ginger hair.

He was wearing a white and navy short-sleeved check shirt, denim jeans and brown boots. He spoke with a Belfast accent.