A thug who stormed a 77-year-old woman's west London home before attacking her and tying her up has been sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in jail.
Gurgana Gueorguieva, 48, was locked up on Friday having pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary against Geraldine Winner, the widow of film director Michael Winner.
The Met tonight released a shocking image of the gashes Mrs Winner – who is now 81 – sustained to her forehead in the assault.
Southwark Crown Court heard Mrs Winner was set upon late on October 9, 2015. She opened the door of her Kensington flat to put out some rubbish.
As she did so, she was attacked by Gueorguieva, who forced Mrs Winner back into her home, blindfolded her and bound her hands and feet.
Gueorguieva, who claimed she was once Mr Winner’s lover, then stole a number of items including a diamond pendant, cash and a painting.
Mrs Winner was left on the floor with head injuries, a broken finger and a broken rib which required hospital treatment.
Gueorguieva, of Russell Road, Holland Park, was only arrested in June this year after a search of her home found the items belonging to Mrs Winner as well as items of clothing she was known to have worn during the attack.
Following the sentencing, Det Cons Peta Lundgren, who led the investigation, said: “This was a brutal attack on an elderly woman in her own home, the place where she should have been safest.
“Gueorguieva appears to have carefully planned this burglary and we are pleased she is now behind bars and unable to subject anyone else to this kind of horrific assault.
“We would like to pay tribute to Mrs Winner for the way she has conducted herself throughout the investigation and for providing vital evidence which would no doubt have been a painful reminder of that night.”
