Jail for Accrington man who twice targeted vulnerable victim

Monday, 23 June 2025 14:23

By Central Radio News

A man who targeted a vulnerable victim twice has been jailed for nine and a half years.

Michael Boothby twice targeted a vulnerable man in his own home, carrying out a robbery and a distraction burglary in the space of a few days.

Justice caught up with Boothby’s despicable actions when he was jailed for nine-and-a-half years earlier this month.

Boothby targeted his victim, a man in his 60s, in February this year.

Around 5.10am on 7^th February, the victim heard banging on the front door at his address in Accrington.

When he answered the door, Boothby and a second man forced their way into the property and punches were thrown at the victim.

He suffered swelling and abrasions around his eyebrows.

A wallet containing cash and a bank card was taken from the victim’s jacket pocket.

During the investigation into the robbery, enquiries found that Boothby had been involved in a distraction burglary at the man’s address a few days earlier where a mobile phone had been stolen.

Boothby, 41, of Dutton Street, Accrington, appeared at Preston Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to charges of robbery and burglary.

He was jailed for seven years for the robbery and 30 months for the burglary, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively – nine-and-a-half years in total.

Det Con Phillipa Crompton of Blackburn CID, said: “The victim should have felt safe in his own home but was twice targeted by Michael Boothby who carried out a robbery and a burglary.

“Boothby preyed on a vulnerable man, and I welcome the lengthy prison sentence imposed on him by the judge.”