Man given 10-year sentence after attempting to rob a woman at knifepoint in Colne

Officers were called on Jan 9th, last year, to reports a woman had been attacked and threatened close to Sainsbury’s supermarket in Windy Bank.

The victim, a 59-year-old woman, had been walking to the cash machine when a man, who is now known to be 41-year-old John Davis, approached her from behind holding a knife.

Davis demanded money and threatened to stab the woman and cut her.

The victim told Davis she had no money and managed to pull down the face mask that he was wearing.

Davis then pulled her backwards to the floor and attempted to kick her in the head while still demanding money.

Davis ran away shortly after the victim had screamed for help.

Police were called a short time later and police gog Zorro managed to track a scent to Belgrave Road, where a black face mask was found on a fence.

Davis’s DNA was found on the inside of that mask and under the fingernails of the victim, who had scratched him to the face while fending off his attack.

Detectives also managed to track Davis making his way home after the incident on various CCTV cameras along the route.

Davis was arrested the following day at his home in Argyle Street, Colne, on suspicion of robbery.

When Davis was searched, officers found a brown paper wrap containing heroin. He was then further arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a control substance.

Davis was due to stand trial in January but pleaded guilty shortly before that date to attempted robbery with a bladed article and possession of a Class A drug.

He was sentenced to seven years custody, with a further three years on extended licence after a judge deemed him to be dangerous.

PC James Jankovski, of Burnley CID, said: “I welcome this sentence, which reflects the seriousness of Davis’s offending. He is an individual who clearly poses a serious risk of harm to the public and I am glad the court has recognised that.

“It is only through luck rather than judgement that the victim in this case wasn’t seriously injured. I want to praise her courage both on the morning of the incident and during the court process.

“A number of different teams have worked on this investigation, including uniformed colleagues and the police dog unit, and I want to praise everybody who has assisted in getting this dangerous individual off the streets of East Lancashire.”