Blackburn, England – On January 16, 2026, Lancashire Police carried out a dramatic pursuit down Northgate in Blackburn that ended with the arrest of a wanted man.

PC Loder and PH Rufford, a police horse, were on patrol when they spotted 41-year-old Ben Cottam, of no fixed address, who was wanted on recall to prison.

PC Loder called for Cottam to stop, but he attempted to flee on foot. PH Rufford, however, proved faster than expected and galloped after him down the high street.

Realizing he could not outrun horse and rider, Cottam stopped and was immediately taken into custody. He was later remanded to HMP Preston following a short period in police custody.

PH Rufford returned safely to the stables, rewarded with a carrot for the successful capture. Lancashire Police praised the effort as a perfect example of teamwork between officer and mounted unit.

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