A VICAR’S daughter was startled by a burglar who appeared in her bedroom while she was home alone revising for her A-Level.

Reverend Nigel Byard and his wife Rosemary were out when the culprit entered their home through the unlocked front door before fleeing when he saw the 18-year-old student.

“It was very scary for her,” said Mrs Byard, who preferred not to name her daughter. “It’s left us all feeling a bit vulnerable.”

Police this week released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in relation to the burglary at The Rectory in Salwarpe on May 18.

The man is understood to have gained access to the property at 1.40pm but was startled when he saw the vicar’s daughter and fled the scene.

“My daughter was revising and all of a sudden a man appears in her bedroom,” said Mrs Byard. “It has left her a little upset but he had a shock when he saw her. That was it.”

Mrs Byard, who was helping to run a Messy Church session in Droitwich at the time – received a phone call from her daughter immediately after the man had left and she rushed home.

Reverend Byard was holding a wedding ceremony later that afternoon, but Mrs Byard waited in with her daughter while the police arrived.

“I came home, we called the police at that time,” she said. “They sent a guy out that afternoon.”

“It has upset her and made her feel more vulnerable,” she added.

Reverend Byard works for the Saltway Team of Churches in Droitwich, Salwarpe and Martinhussingtree.

Mrs Byard was confused as to why the burglar would target a property so “clearly covered by CCTV”.

PC Simon Rose said the man in the CCTV initially approached the front door with a dog 20 minutes prior to the burglary, before returning at the time of the incident.

He said a burglar entered the address “but was disturbed” and the man in the CCTV footage “fled the location in the direction of New Chawson Lane and Droitwich”.

The man police are hoping to speak to is described as white, of medium build, aged between 40 and 50 years, six feet tall and with a bald shaved head.

He was said to be wearing red rimmed glasses, a three-quarter length camo jacket, camo T-shirt with blue writing on the front, blue three-quarter length jeans and brown walking boots.

PC Rose added: “This is a burglary committed in a dwelling, and very much in the public interest as it would have been obvious that this property was that of the local church member.”

He said he suspects the man police are looking for “is local due to him walking his dog away from the scene and returning 20 minutes later without it”.

“I’d like to speak to the man pictured as we believe he may have information that may help with our investigation.

“If anyone recognises the man or has any information about the burglary on 18 May please call 101 quoting 22/47268/19.

“Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”