A MAN who committed a series of robberies over a five-day period in Blackburn has been jailed.

Mameaz Ali, 29, of Blenheim Close in the town was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Monday to four years and four months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery at an earlier hearing.

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Detectives launched an investigation after the first robbery which took place at about 10pm on Wednesday, May 4 when Ali grabbed a 71-year-old man as he was returning to his home in Seven Trees Avenue and stole cash from him.

The following day, a 16-year-old boy was withdrawing money from a cash machine in Shear Brow when Ali punched him in the face and made off with the cash.

The third robbery took place at a cashpoint outside TSB in Whalley New Road on May 6 when Ali snatched £80 from a 19-year-old woman who had just withdrawn the money.

Ali struck again at the same cashpoint on May 8 when a 49-year-old man was pushed from behind as he was withdrawing money.

He took the cash from the victim before making off on foot.

Ali was arrested on May 8 and charged with the robberies after he was identified by members of the public following a CCTV appeal.

DC Mark Hutchinson of Blackburn CID said: “This was a nasty series of robberies which took place over a five-day period and they could well have continued had Ali not been apprehended.

“He was identified as a result of a CCTV appeal and we would like to thank the public for their fantastic response. Thanks to their help we were able to stop Ali in his tracks and he has now been brought to justice for his actions.”