BLACKBURN MAN JAILED FOR STRING OF DOMESTIC ABUSE OFFENCES
A monstrous Blackburn man who showed a disgraceful pattern of trying to control women is set to spend years behind bars.Karl Atkinson, 34, of Kingsbridge Wharf, appeared before Preston Crown Court charged with two counts of affray and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour.
The defendant’s offending began in July 2019, when he met the first of the victims, who at first believed him to be a lovely person.
Their relationship developed quickly, and she fell pregnant with his daughter.
However, the situation quickly deteriorated, with Atkinson drinking heavily and using cocaine.
He began taking money from the victim, threatening to “go out and rob someone” if she didn’t give it to him.
The regularity of this meant the victim struggled to pay rent, and others would demand money owed by Atkinson.
Prosecutor Alexander Bennie said: “He would act erratically and angrily, and she became frightened of him.
He smashed things and insisted she use the phone on speaker, reducing her privacy.
He was also physically abusive, hitting her in the face while she held their daughter, and on one occasion, strangling her to the point of death.” The pair separated, and Atkinson then began a relationship with a second victim, during which he assaulted her, shouted at her, belittled her, isolated her, and stole hundreds of pounds from her bank account.
A victim impact statement detailed the trauma and mental health impact, as well as the financial difficulties caused by his actions.
A statement from the first victim explained she did not report him out of fear and lived in terror for months, depleting her bank account.
Judge Graham Knowles described Atkinson as a manipulative abuser who exploited women’s vulnerabilities.
Additionally, Atkinson missed a burglary trial in November 2023 and was at large for months.
On January 27, 2024, he was arrested after chasing two men with a knife in Darwen.
He was already serving a three-year sentence for burglary.
Mitigation by William Staunton highlighted Atkinson's efforts in prison, including passing drug and alcohol tests and his aim to stay clean upon release.
The judge sentenced him to six and a half years in prison, recognizing him as a dangerous offender.
