CAGED: 'Extremely dangerous' man jailed for knifepoint robberies in Chorley

Leon Martin, 27, of Ennerdale, Skelmersdale broke into the home of a 92-year-old woman on Glamis Drive and threatened her with a knife on December 23, 2016, say police.

He searched her house and left the scene after he was unable to find any items of value, they added.

The second attempted burglary happened minutes later at a nearby property on Southport Road when Martin entered the house and threatened two men who were inside.

He demanded money and car keys, putting a knife to the throat of one of the men as he marched him around the house. Two other family members who were in the house at the time managed to lock themselves in an upstairs bedroom where they were able to call police. Again Martin left the house without any property.

Police officers arrived at the scene and found Martin hiding in a nearby garden where he was arrested. He was later charged with two offences of assault with intent to rob and possession of a bladed article.

He appeared at Preston Crown Court on Monday, February 7 and pleaded guilty to all charges. He was sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment.

DC Paul Price of South CID said: “This was a particularly nasty incident which was extremely distressing for all involved. To be faced with an unknown person wielding a large kitchen knife in their own home must have been absolutely terrifying for the victims.

"Incidents like this can traumatize those affected for a number of years; the fact that it occurred just two days before Christmas only compounds what was a truly horrific crime.

"The result at court means that an extremely dangerous offender, one who has shown he is willing to target the most vulnerable in our community, is now off the streets of Lancashire for a long time.”

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