Dangerous man given 23-year sentence for violent attack in Blackburn
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
The man pictured is David Cairney and you won’t see him out and about for a while.
That is because today he was sentenced to 23 years at Preston Crown Court for a sickening hammer attack on a man inside a flat in Stonyhurst Road, Blackburn.
It happened around lunchtime on 30th March 2024 and when a woman went to help the man, Cairney attacked her with the same hammer.
Cairney then stole the male victim’s bank card and wallet.
Both of the victims suffered a number of serious injuries which required hospital treatment.
In an impact statement to the court, the male victim said: “I had to stay in the hospital for 3 weeks due to the severity of the injuries. During which, one night, I was rushed down for an emergency scan to check where a piece of my skull was because they thought it had pierced my brain. The doctors told me they thought I had a bleed on the brain. When they told me, I was scared I was going to die. I was in a lot of pain from being hit by the hammer. The pain in my head was horrendous, I had a severe dull pain that hurt all over, even when I opened my mouth. I was also hit on my arms, legs, in between the legs and body. For the pain, I was given morphine orally and a liquid drip paracetamol. Whilst I was in hospital, I began to have nightmares and flashbacks of the assault. These have continued to the present day.
“When I was discharged from the hospital, we went to a family member's house. I didn't feel safe and would stay inside all day. I had panic attacks, and I couldn't be alone, so I had to have my partner with me all the time. I missed hospital appointments because I couldn't leave the house. The pain was still severe, and I noticed my eyesight start to deteriorate. My eyesight is cloudy, I never had this before the assault. I had terrible headaches that would leave me bedridden. I would have to take painkillers and wait for the pain to ease off.
“I have suffered with depression previously, but since the assault, my depression has worsened. Sometimes, I wake up with dread, and it makes me feel horrible. I don't know if it will ever go away. I don't trust anyone now. If I walk past anyone, I will turn around and look at them to see if they're going to do anything to me. I am constantly looking around. If I see any males ahead of me, I will turn around and walk another way rather than walk past them.”
The female victim wrote: “From being attacked by David Cairney with the hammer, I suffered a fractured eye socket and there was a possibility of losing my eye. This caused me a great amount of stress and anxiety of the thought of only having one eye.”
She continued: “I don’t trust anyone anymore, as the person who I thought loved me, caused me such harm.”
Following enquiries, 36-year-old Cairney was arrested on suspicion of GBH Assault later the same day.
He was later charged with two counts of Section 18 Wounding and robbery.
Cairney, of no fixed address, was found guilty on all counts by a jury at Preston Crown Court last year and returned to the same court to be sentenced yesterday (20th January).
Judge Richard Archer sentenced Cairney to 18 years immediate custody and also deemed to be a dangerous offender. He gave him a further five-year period on extended licence.
