A retired market trader who fought off a gang of armed robbers in England after beating them with her handbag has said she knew she could have been in danger but would “do the same again”.
Ann Timson, of Spring Boroughs, Northampton, was caught on video running across a road towards the six-strong mob as they smashed the windows of a jeweller's in Northampton.
The raiders, who had arrived at the scene on three scooters, drove away after the red-coated pensioner began lashing out at them with a large black handbag. One fell off his scooter and was detained by members of the public.
Ms Timson, who is in her 70s, said she had been shopping in town when she bumped into a friend on Gold Street and stopped to have a chat when she heard a commotion.
"I became aware of a loud revving noise at the top of the street. I looked over and saw a kid run up to the doorway of the jeweller which is on the corner of Bridge Street," she said inn a statement issued through the police. "Three lads followed him and when I saw their arms going I thought the kid was being beaten up.
"My mother's instinct kicked in and I ran across the road shouting at the lads to stop it. Only then did I realise that they were smashing glass and that it was a raid."
Ms Timson, who is now retired, said she saw someone on a scooter in her way revving the bike's engine but by then "was in full flight and I started whacking the lads over the head with my shopping bag".
The footage of the robbery, broadcast by ITV's Anglia Tonight, also showed other members of the public pinning down the man who had fallen from one of the scooters just yards away from the shop.
Northamptonshire Police said officers were called to the scene, on the corner of Gold Street and Bridge Street, at 9.30am yesterday after the gang began to smash the store's front windows using sledgehammers.
A total of four men, aged 18, 22, 25 and 39, were arrested and police are now seeking a further two other people who are believed to have been involved in the incident.
"The offenders were disturbed by members of the public and fled the area without taking anything," a police spokesman said. "One of the offenders was detained by members of the public and the other three men were arrested by police a short time later."
No one was injured during the incident.
PA