A Ramsbottom man was tied up with his own shoelaces in his home at knifepoint "in what appears to have been a case of mistaken identity".

At around 1.30pm on Sunday, May 28 last year, James Lamb entered a property on Brierley Street in Bury where he waited for his victim in a communal area.

Once the man, a resident of the property, came back to the address, he was met by Lamb, who was wearing a balaclava and demanded money and drugs, something the victim did not have and was not involved in.

After tying up the man with shoelaces at knifepoint, Lamb searched the man’s room before leaving and taking his Mercedes.

However, neighbours were able to free the man and run downstairs, at which point Lamb left the Mercedes and fled the area.

He was later interviewed by police following a DNA match after officers analysed a table Lamb had leant on in the property.

He was at that point being held on remand for a separate offence.

Lamb, 30, of Peel Brow, Ramsbottom, was sentenced to 13 years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to attempted robbery.

PC Ben Hubbard, from Bury’s Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “This disgusting crime – targeting someone in their own home in what appears to be a case of mistaken identity – shows the complete lack of regards Lamb has for others.

“I am glad he is behind bars following a comprehensive investigation by the local Neighbourhood Crime Team.

"We will not allow these types of crimes to go unpunished.”