A SERIAL robber who targeted elderly residents in sheltered accommodation has been jailed indefinitely.

Craig Cadman, also a convicted rapist, struck just hours after holding a 62-year-old woman at knifepoint as she left a fast-food restaurant.

Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard Cadman, aged 25, of Hawthorn Road, Westhoughton had only been out of jail for a few weeks, after reaching the end of a six-year sentence for robbery, when he went on his crime spree.

Judge Anthony Rumbelow, QC, told him: “You are willing to use violence to get your way, and there is a high risk you will re-offend. There is also a real possibility you will cause serious harm to vulnerable groups of society.”

The court heard Cadman first struck shortly after 10pm on March 11.

Ann Hargreaves, aged 62, went into a chip shop in Wigan Road, Westhoughton, while her husband waited for her in the car. Cadman was also in the shop and he saw she was handed a £5 note with her change.

He followed her out of the shop, put his hand over her mouth, held a six-inch knife to her throat, and said “Give me your fiver or I will stab you.”

Mrs Hargreaves handed over the money and screamed for her husband. Cadman ran off.

He then went to The Welland, Westhoughton, where he broke into a flat belonging to a man in his 60s. He was confronted by the occupant and fled.

Cadman then went to sheltered accommodation, where he told the elderly occupants of four flats he was their carer.

His first targeted a 73-year-old woman who reported the incident to her neighbour, Dorothy Norris, aged 62.

Mrs Norris took her elderly neighbour back home and returned to her flat. Seconds later, her intercom rang. It was Cadman.

She dialled 999 but he forced open the door and dragged her into her bedroom. He stole her mobile phone.

He then targeted Patricia Cooper, aged 70. He stole her purse containing bank cards and money.

He also tried to force his way into a flat belonging to a 77-year-old woman.

Cadman pleaded guilty to one robbery and three burglaries, and asked for three further burglaries to be taken into consideration.

Judge Anthony Rumbelow said: “It has been said that you committed these offences fuelled by drugs and alcohol and you have no real memory, but you went out armed with a knife and spotted Ann Hargreaves being given a £5 note.

“You also got into the sheltered accommodation and that involved thinking of a ruse that you were a carer. The impact of these offences is terrifying.

“Mrs Hargreaves said that she needed medication to help her sleep and that she could not go out alone and suffered panic attacks.

“Mrs Norris says she now has to be home by 9pm, and that has changed her social life. Each night she fears that she will be a victim of another attack.”

Cadman, who was convicted of rape when he was 14, was given a five-year minimum sentence for public protection.

amanda.smith@theboltonnews.co.uk