Dangerous man who robbed women in Blackburn given 14-year sentence

Thursday, May 29, 2025

The man pictured is Craig Cotton and he has been given a 14-year sentence for robbing women in Blackburn.

Cotton committed the first offence on 23^rd December last year when his victim went outside her flat for a cigarette around 6pm.

She noticed a man and woman walk past her. The man, who was later identified as Cotton, turned around and asked her for a lighter. Cotton lit his cigarette, pulled out a knife and demanded her handbag.

He then began waving the knife at her and pulling at her handbag. The victim was so scared that the man was going to harm her that she has let go of the bag. Cotton ran off with the victim’s bag.

At 7.20pm on 13^th January, Cotton approached the second victim in the Bank Top area of Blackburn and sprayed her in the face with an aerosol can. There was then a struggle during which Cotton stole the victim’s handbag.

Cotton was identified from CCTV enquiries.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, 40-year-old Cotton, of Rolleston Road, Blackburn, was charged with robbery.

He pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared at Preston Crown Court in March.

Cotton returned to the same court yesterday (28^th May) where he was jailed for 10 years, with a further four years extended licence after a Judge deemed him to be a dangerous offender.

PC Karl Duckworth, of East CID, said: “Cotton is a career criminal who has no qualms about using violence and weapons to get what he wants.

“I welcome the sentence which gives the public some protection from Cotton’s criminal behaviour.”