'Dangerous' man jailed after elderly couple hospitalised following knifepoint robbery in Accrington

Jason McCash, 36, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 12 years after he robbed and attacked an elderly couple in their Accrington home.

He was also given an extended licence period of three years after Judge Beverley Lunt, sitting at Preston Crown Court, deemed him to be a dangerous offender.

DC Rubina Akoo, of East CID, said: "This was a despicable crime committed against two vulnerable victims in their own home. Not only did McCash act with callous disregard to his victims' welfare, he also concocted a lie about how he received the stomach injuries. That led to the arrest of a woman he knew was completely innocent of any wrongdoing in this case.

"I welcome the sentence handed down by the Judge and I am also pleased that she rightly deemed McCash to be an individual who poses a danger to the public. He will now be off our streets for a considerable period of time and I hope the public feel reassured and are able to sleep that bit easier at night.

"I would also like to praise the bravery of the victims, who not only showed considerable courage on the night of the robbery but have continued to do so throughout the weeks and months leading up to sentencing."

A woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s answered a knock at their door, believing it to be their son, at around 11pm on January 27.

When they opened the door, two masked intruders - one later identified as McCash - barged in before demanding money.

McCash proceeded to hit the man over the head before pushing him to the floor. He then threatened the woman with a knife and pulled her to the ground, but she managed to drag herself along the floor and call the police.

Officers discovered a handbag and the couple's Vauxhall car had been stolen, although the vehicle was later found abandoned on Lee Street.

The couple were taken to hospital for treatment but police say their injuries were not life-threatening and they have since been discharged.

Later that evening, McCash was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with a "significant stab wound" to the stomach - an injury reportedly sustained during the robbery.

McCash claimed his injuries were caused during an altercation with a woman he knew, resulting in a woman in her 30s being arrested.

The woman spent several hours in custody before it was established she had nothing to do with McCash's injury, and she was released with no further action.

McCash was later interviewed and charged with two counts of robbery, the unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He was also charged with a burglary at a residential property which he had committed on the night of January 26.

If you think your home has been broken into, assess the situation carefully before taking action. If you think the burglar is still in or around the property, call 999 and wait outside in a safe place for the police.

If you are sure the burglar has gone, call 101 or report it online HERE.Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 per month for the first two months. Try us today by clicking here