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Heroic Gran Fights Off Robber With Walking Stick

Heroic Gran Fights Off Robber With Walking Stick

June Turner, 82, says she went 'hell for leather' to fight off the robber

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

An elderly shopkeeper fought off a robber by whacking him with her walking stick. What a woman.

Eighty-two-year old June Turner was working behind the counter at a newsagent at 6.30am on Tuesday morning (3 September) when a man came in, armed with a metal bar, and began demanding cash.

However, brave June refused to give him anything and instead turned the tables, lashing out with her walking stick. I bet he wasn't expecting that.

June said she was prepared to defend her family business - AJ and J Newsagents in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent - 'by any means necessary'.

CCTV footage caught the moment June fought back 'hell for leather' as the man went for the till.

The robber then pushed June to the ground, took £50 ($60) and six pack of cigarettes.

June was checked over by paramedics after sustaining a black eye and some bruising to her arm, but was back behind the till just half an hour later. Amazing.

The gran-of-three said: "I acted on instinct really. I thought there's no way he's having the money we work so hard to make.

"I wish I'd had something a bit harder with me, so I could have finished him off and knocked him out.

June Turner, 82, bravely fought off the robber.
SWNS

"I don't really know what was going through my head but I knew I had to defend our business by any means necessary. I was determined to protect myself and our shop."

June said she initially thought it might have been a joke when the man walked in with a blanket over him and just his eyes showing.

She said: "I thought it was some sort of set-up. But then he came up to the counter and said, 'I want your money'.

"I said, 'You're not having my money,' and with that he came round the back of the counter and got some money from the till.

"I saw him with a £20 note in his hand and then I couldn't find the panic button, so I got my stick and I really belted him with it. I went hell for leather on him.

"Then he opened the cigarettes and they were all on the floor. I nearly had the shirt off his back, but he pushed me to the floor and then he rushed out like the clappers."

June, who took over the shop in 1974, stayed on the floor until a regular customer called Craig came in and called for help.

The OAP says she went 'hell for leather' with her walking stick.
SWNS

She said: "I shouted to Craig who comes in every morning that I was on the floor and then he rang the police and paramedics and then my son Alan came back from delivering his papers.

"It was just my instinct to try to stop him and give him a good whack. I think he was quite shocked; he wasn't expecting that. I bet he thought 'she's getting on a bit'.

"We work from 5am to 6pm seven days a week only to have some scumbag to come and steal from us.

"He only got away with some cigarettes and a bit of money, but I'd rather he got away with nothing at all and I wish I'd got a view of his face.

"Apparently he was sitting on the step outside watching who was coming in and out and he came in after my son had left to deliver the papers.

"He knew what he was going to do but he won't be so lucky next time."

Her son Alan, 62, praised his 'brave' mum, saying: "I'd only been gone about 15 minutes when I came back and saw her on the floor.

"I made her stay on the floor until police and paramedic arrived because of her hip. But once she was treated, she was back in the shop half an hour later.

Despite being knocked to the ground by the robber, June was back behind the counter half an hour later.
SWNS

"Watching the CCTV back made me very angry and she did appear to be shaken up a bit to me.

"Her blood pressure was up, but I think she was just more angry that she didn't do a better job of it.

"We found a metal bar on the floor which we think must have fallen out of his pocket and he also dropped his blanket which the police have taken away to examine.

"She was very brave, and I don't think he'll be back. I just hope nothing like this happens again and I'm just happy my mum is OK.

"The police have been very proactive, and we just want this guy caught now so he can't target anybody else."

A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: "Police are investigating a robbery in Hanley where a woman in her 80s was pushed to the floor and are appealing for information."

The suspect is described as being white, aged between 25 and 30, with a slight blond moustache and wearing a black tracksuit.

Anyone with information or CCTV is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 81 of 3 September or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: UK News, crime