Derbyshire man jailed after attacking bedbound victim in Accrington
Daniel Laming broke into a home and carried out a violent assault
A Derbyshire man has been jailed for breaking into the home of a bedbound man in Accrington and attacking him with weapons.
Daniel Laming, 39, of Wye Knot, Bakewell, was sentenced to four years behind bars today, 17th November. He broke into the victim’s bungalow during the early hours of 27th August 2022 and carried out a violent assault while the victim tried to summon help.
The victim, who is in his late 40s, awoke to find Laming attempting to enter through the window next to his bed. After climbing through the window, Laming began strangling and punching the victim, placing a cushion over his face while repeatedly saying "Goddess."
When the victim pressed his lifeline alarm and shouted “police,” Laming escalated the attack, going into the kitchen and returning with knives and a frying pan. Continuing the assault, he told the victim: “What is wrong with you? Die, just die.”
The emergency Lifeline operator, who was listening to the attack, called the police.
Officers found Laming crouching in the bedroom when they arrived. He fled through the back of the property but was arrested moments later in an adjacent garden.
Appearing at Preston Crown Court earlier this year, Laming pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily harm. Returning to court today, he was sentenced.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the man described the devastating effect of the incident.
“I have moved house. I did not feel safe anymore in the house where he broke in,” the victim said.
“What happened to me has destroyed me... I wake up nearly every night at around 2:30-3am and I cannot get back to sleep. I know that it was around 2:45am when he came in and I fought for my life so I wake at around the time it happened regularly."
The victim also shared how the attack has impacted his quality of life, leaving him afraid, anxious, and isolated.
DC Vicky Heys from Lancashire Police called the attack “sickening” and acknowledged the fear the victim had endured.
“This was a sickening and sinister attack on a vulnerable man in his own home. I shudder to think of the fear he felt as he was desperately screaming for help,” Heys said.
“While it’s not for me to comment on the sentence handed down to Laming, I am pleased he has been held accountable for his completely unacceptable and cowardly behaviour."