An elderly couple has told how their house has become their prison, following a violent home invasion in Christchurch.
Maera Todd, 39, was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison after admitting her part in the August robbery.
The Northland woman's victims - John McCammon, 83 and his wife Colleen, 81 - delivered their emotional victim impact statements at the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.
Mr McCammon recounted how petrified he was of being killed after being threatened with his own garden secateurs.
"You have viciously and violently changed our lives through your total unprovoked attack and we will never forget it," he said, battling through tears.
"The damage that you have physically caused will in time dissipate, but the psychological damage will stay forever."
Ms McCammon's face was left black and blue following the incident. She arrived home and was violently attacked along with her husband while the offenders screamed at them to stay quiet.
"I was screaming for anyone who might be passing the house," Mr McCammon said.
Todd had tried to muffle his screams with a pillow and then grabbed the secateurs and threatened him.
The court heard how the couple is so scared after the violent attack that they can no longer live in their home. They are now undergoing counselling to cope with the trauma.
"I am nervous when I walk alone in my neighbourhood and look forward to just getting home. I don't think my life will ever return to normal.
"Our life is totally uncertain, and we are not financially wealthy enough to buy another house in this area that we love.
"Therefore, we must move to another area that we can afford. I believe every New Zealander has the right to feel free and safe in their own home."
The great-grandparents have lived at the same Papanui address for the past three decades and formed a very strong attachment to their home, spending hours in the garden and repairing the house, while maintaining close bonds within the tight-knit community.
During that same time, Todd had grown up surrounded by violence and drug abuse, racking up 48 criminal convictions over 30 years of offending. This includes 15 court order or prison release condition breaches.
And despite her children wanting her to live a "better life", she has kept offending. Her criminal history and drug abuse impaired her ability to parent, the court heard.
Outside court, the couple's son Chris McCammon told reporters how he fears for his parents' quality of life from now on.
"They've stolen my parents' quality of life; my father has visibly aged a great deal in the last few months. It's affected him - the emotional impact is huge," he said.
Chris McCammon said Todd was "an experienced criminal" and "beyond help".
Todd was imposed with a non-parole term, meaning she will have to serve half her sentence before being considered for release.
Another woman involved in the attack is in custody to be sentenced in January.
Newshub.
