Knife-wielding South Yorkshire robber climbed into woman's home in middle of night and slashed at her

A terrifying knife-wielding robber has been given an 18-year custodial prison sentence after he climbed into a woman’s home and slashed at her.
By Jon Cooper
Published 11th Jun 2020, 10:17 BST
Updated 12th Jun 2020, 13:34 BST
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on June 10 how Daniel Cummins, aged 36, of St Helen’s Street, Elsecar, Barnsley, shinned-up a pipe on a house in Barnsley in the middle of the night and went into the victim’s bedroom and punched and slashed at her with a knife before stealing her mobile phone.

Cummins, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and unlawful wounding but after a previous trial he was acquitted of sexual assault and trespassing with intent to commit a sexual assault.

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Judge Sarah Wright told Cummins: “You had deliberately armed yourself with a knife and I find you going into a house of a young woman who you knew was on her own.

Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.
Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.

“It was clearly well-planned and you went armed and I find you knew it was her property.”

Judge Wright found Cummins deliberately entered the victim’s bedroom and told her to lie on her bed on her front and threatened her with a knife and she feared being assaulted or worse.

As the victim tried to turn over, according to Judge Wright, Cummins punched the woman and when he saw she had a phone he punched her again and slashed at her with the knife.

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David Gordon, prosecuting, confirmed Cummins shinned-up a pipe and assaulted the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in her bedroom in the early hours of August 12 before taking her phone and leaving her with facial injuries.

Pictured is Daniel Cummins, aged 36, of St Helen's Street, Elsecar, Barnsley, who has been jailed after admitting robbery and wounding.Pictured is Daniel Cummins, aged 36, of St Helen's Street, Elsecar, Barnsley, who has been jailed after admitting robbery and wounding.
Pictured is Daniel Cummins, aged 36, of St Helen's Street, Elsecar, Barnsley, who has been jailed after admitting robbery and wounding.

Ian West, defending, argued Cummins claimed it had been “mistaken identity” and though he did commit violence there was no sexual element.

Judge Wright dismissed Cummins’ claims he had been looking for a drug-dealer and got the wrong property and that the woman had lunged at him and he panicked and pushed her.

She added: “What you did to her will affect her for the rest of her life.”

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Judge Wright defined Cummins as dangerous before sentencing him to 18-years of custody.

Cummins must serve 13-years before he can be considered for parole. He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order.