A man stole sentimental jewellery believed to be worth around £10,000 while in the midst of a drug addiction.

Martin Lawrence, 34, grabbed the gold necklaces off the woman, who had collected them since she was 12 years old, while she was wearing them, leaving a deep mark on the back of her neck.

Lawrence also threatened to kill another woman in a separate incident a week later, scaring her by banging and headbutting her window.

Preston Crown Court heard how the first incident happened on November 5 at around 3.45pm when Lawrence attended the home of David Irving in Blackburn.

Holly Menary, prosecuting, said the two were known to each other as Mr Irving had hired Lawrence to repoint some brickwork at his home around three months earlier, but had let him go due to bad workmanship.

The defendant knocked on the rear window, scaring Mr Irving’s daughter who was in the kitchen. He told her he needed Mr Irving to sign a document, but she replied saying he would not be signing anything.

Lawrence then went to the front of the house, where he met Mr Irving at the door. Mr Irving said Lawrence appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Mr Irving said he was not interested in Lawrence doing any more work at the house and asked him to leave or he would call the police.

Lawrence then tried to enter the house, saying he ‘had men with him to put some tools in the back garden.’

It was then said he appeared to go in to hug Mr Irving, but as he did he reached past him and grabbed Ms Irving’s wrist and pulled off a gold bracelet.

He then grabbed hold of a number of gold chains around her neck which eventually snapped. She said approximately 13 necklaces were taken totalling around £10,000 in value.

Lawrence left at this point.

A week later, on November 12, he attended the home of another woman in Darwen, putting both of his hands on the front window of her house before headbutting it.

He the shouted ‘you silly cow, I’m going to f*****g kill you’ before saying ‘I will be back for you tonight.’

This prompted the woman to call the police and Lawrence left the scene when he heard the sirens.

Tom Lord, mitigating, read a letter from Lawrence to the judge which said he had “not specifically targeted” those people but they were “unfortunate victims of my drug addicted state.”

Mr Lord added his client was remorseful and apologises to all those impacted by his behaviour.

Recorder John Jones, sentencing, said: “You attempted to enter the house. Somewhat bizarrely, he [Mr Irving] thought you were going to give him a hug. But you were reaching past him to reach the jewellery.

“Eventually the necklaces and bracelets gave way and you made off with them. You therefore obtained, in effect, £10,000 of her property.”

Regarding the second offence, Recorder Jones said: “You banged on the window and were seen not only to do that but also to headbutt the window.

“You were shouting, you were abusive, and there was a threat to kill.”

Lawrence, of Ashton View, Harehills, West Yorkshire, was convicted of threats to damage or destroy property and using threatening behaviour at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court in January 5.

At the same court on November 15, he pleaded guilty to robbery.

He was 14 previous convictions for 33 offences between 2001 and 2023.

Recorder Jones sentenced Lawrence to three years and six months in prison.