A nurse has spoken of her terror after expensive jewellery given to her as a wedding present was stolen by burglars who covered her home with bathroom bleach.

Moreblessing Mureerwi, 41, came home from work to find that thieves had ransacked her flat in Rowlands Close, Highgate, ripping her bedroom door off its hinges and spraying bleach on her windows and other surfaces.

Wedding presents from her mother-in-law, including six pairs of gold earrings, a gold bracelet, and a white gold and diamond necklace, were among the valuable possessions snatched.

The community mental health nurse, based at the Peckwater Centre in Kentish Town, said: “The jewellery was very special to me. There are no words to express what it meant.”

She continued: “I work so hard for everything I have. Why would they steal from me?

“I’m very scared because I don’t know what’s next. They’ll probably come back.”

Police officers who investigated the crime said it was the first time they had seen bleach sprayed on windows and other surfaces in a burglary.

It is thought the bleach was sprayed to get rid of any fingerprint evidence left at the scene.

The burglars are believed to have used a screwdriver to gain entry through the windows.

They then took an Xbox games console belonging to Ms Mureerwi’s 21-year-old daughter and the jewellery, which the mother-of-one believes is worth hundreds of pounds.

Ms Mureerwi, who moved to London from Zimbabwe 14 years ago, suspected she had been burgled when she could not unlock her front door after she returned home from work at about 7.30pm on May 22.

She called the police and an officer had to climb through the open window to let her in as the door had been bolted shut from the inside.

“Everything was upside down,” Ms Mureerwi said. “I was crying as I went in. I went into the bedroom and saw it had been ransacked.

“It’s a good neighbourhood and I wouldn’t expect anyone to come into my flat. I’ve lived in England for 14 years and it’s the first time I’ve been burgled. I’m now scared to be here on my own.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Haringey CID on 101 quoting CRIS 2811228/14.