THE PUBLIC is now safer after a judge sentenced two ‘dangerous’ women to long custodial sentences, a detective has said.

Det Sgt Darren Irving was speaking after Rhea Parker, 23, was jailed for life and Joanne McNally, 41, was jailed for 26 years for attempting to murder Philip Preece by bludgeoning him with a meat cleaver and leaving him for dead.

The pair had gone to Mr Preece’s home in Whalley New Road in Blackburn to obtain money to buy the addictive drug spice, Preston Crown Court was told.

And when Mr Preece refused and told them to leave, he was subjected to a sustained assault, which left him with 14 head wounds and fighting for his life, the court heard.

The court heard both women had previous convictions for violence.

Parker had also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to then-partner, Michael Barclay, after he allegedly groped her last April. Parker stabbed him with a broken wine bottle.

She had also previously tried to rob the mobile phones of two girls, aged 12 and 14, as they were on their way to school, before some builders intervened.

Trial judge Graham Knowles QC deemed both McNally, of Whalley New Road, and Parker, of no fixed address, as dangerous.

Mr Knowles also ruled that Parker will serve a minimum of 13 years and 259 days before being considered for parole.

DS Irving said: “We are pleased these two women are now behind bars, particularly Parker whose crimes appeared to have been escalating in seriousness.

“These two women were a menace to the people of Blackburn and hopefully residents will be able to sleep easier knowing they are off our streets for a considerable amount of time.”

He continued: “This was a sustained and brutal assault on a man in his own home which left him with significant injuries and serious long term physical and psychological harm and the sentences reflect the gravity of the offending.”

Speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Telegraph Mr Preece said he now has trouble sleeping because of the traumatic attack and he is undergoing plastic surgery to restore some feeling to his fingers, which were maimed as he tried to defend himself.

His daughter, Kelly Shaw, now his carer, insisted the incident had left him a ‘shadow of a man’ who was afraid to be left alone.