A YOUNG mum who took part in an early hours street robbery of a "lonely," disabled man, has been sent to prison for three and a half years.

Burnley Crown Court had heard how Catrina Biggs, 25, went through victim Edward Knowles' pockets and removed £50 cash as a male accomplice stabbed him repeatedly. Mr Knowles, who is profoundly deaf, had to have hospital treatment after being left beaten in an alleyway in Accrington.

Sentencing the defendant, Recorder Philip Curran said somebody like the complainant should be able to go out without fear of violent attack and added Biggs had been found guilty in just 10 minutes. He said in the past the defendant had had every penalty the court could impose.

Biggs, of Belfield Road, Accrington, was convicted of robbery after a trial, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice and was committed for sentence by Hyndburn magistrates for theft.

The court heard Mr Knowles, who was in his fifties, went to Afrikas nightclub in Accrington because he was lonely and there met up with Biggs.

The defendant said she was sorry Mr Knowles had been robbed and the complainant thought he would try and follow Biggs to see if he could find out where those he believed to be responsible lived.

Mr Knowles shared a taxi with Biggs and her boyfriend and when they got out, the victim moved into an alleyway as he had a "sixth sense," something was going to happen. Biggs asked Mr Knowles if he wanted sex, a suggestion he found abhorrent, in a bid to try and keep him in the alleyway.

The defendant's partner, who was armed with a knife or syringe, struck Mr Knowles several times and stabbed him as Biggs went through Mr Knowles' pockets.

The court also heard when the case came to trial Biggs, who has previous convictions including for prostitution, altered a sicknote to say she was unfit to attend court due to depression. COURT: 'Lonely' disabled man was targeted for attack