EXCLUSIVE: Supergran speaks to the Chron as four men are charged over bungled raid on town centre jewellers
THE pensioner who fought off a gang of armed robbers with her handbag has said she would do exactly the same again if it was needed.
Pictures of retired market trader Ann Timson were streamed across the world yesterday, after she was captured on video intervening in an armed robbery at Michael Jones Jewellers in Gold Street yesterday morning.
Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle & Echo she said: “I was standing talking with a woman when I heard a commotion and I looked across and saw six young men on scooters.
“At first I thought one of them was being set upon by three others. I was not going to stand by and watch somebody take a beating or worse so I tried to intervene.
“What concerned me was that too many people just stood around watching as if they were in shock and nobody was doing anything.
“When I got closer to them I realised it was a robbery and then I was even more angry that they felt they could get away with what they were doing in broad daylight. One of the gang shot off down Gold Street on a scooter and nearly hit a woman and baby in her buggy.
“I clobbered him with my shopping but he got away.
“The rest of them were still trying to smash and grab at the jewellery.
“I didn’t know what happened next but I just kept swinging my bag.
“They then tried to escape, I landed several blows against one lad on the back of a bike and brought him to the ground.
“He raised a hammer to me so I just kept hitting out and shouting and shouting for others to help and bring them down.
“Several people then came to help. “It was over in what seems like seconds.”
Mrs Timson added she was pleased four people had been arrested in connection with the robbery.
“I’m not a hero and it was maybe foolish of me to get involved but somebody had to do something.
Now I just want to be left in peace and I feel very uncomfortable with all the press and media attention.
“I’m a private person and do not want any press attention and I hope that the media will respect my wishes.”
The have-a-go-hero said she would not be giving any further interviews but in a statement released this afternoon she added: “Passers by didn’t come to my assistance to begin with. I was amazed at that, but they all seemed mesmerised.
“A lot were standing there filming or taking photos and I wonder whether more people didn’t intervene because they thought the raid was being mocked up.
“In the cold light of day, I know I put myself in danger. But I probably would do the same again.
“My red coat has now been packed away for the winter and my red hair is being dyed green. And my black shopping bag is having a rest today, to give it time to recover from its bruises.”
Detectives were today given a further 12 hours to interview the four men who have been arrested in connection with the bungled robbery, and they were charged with robbery and motor vehicle offences this afternoon.
The four, all from London, will appear before magistrates in Northampton tomorrow.
The gang, who were wearing helmets and arrived on three mopeds, attempted to smash their way through a reinforced window, containing Rolex watches, using sledgehammers while shocked staff frantically tried to raise the alarm inside.
They finally managed to activate the security shutters, shutting out the robbers.
The four men, aged 18, 22, 25 and 39, were arrested shortly after the incident. One was arrested after being followed by a member of the public and the other two were arrested after images of the incident were sent to officers’ BlackBerrys.
Two offenders are still outstanding and detectives investigating the case are appealing for the public’s help in tracing them.
Detective Inspector Ally White, from the Northampton Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We would like to thank all of the members of the public who assisted in the incident in Gold Street yesterday. However, we would always advise the public to call the police if they witness a crime, rather than risking their own safety by getting involved themselves.”
Inspector White added: “Officers attended the scene shortly after 9.30am yesterday after receiving calls to a robbery in progress. One man, aged 18, was arrested at the scene. A second man was arrested a short time later following the assistance of another member of the public.
“The final two men were arrested by officers conducting a search of the area. All four had been arrested by 10.30am.”
Police are still appealing for people’s help in identifying any of the offenders involved in this incident and also anyone who may have seen two men making off from the town centre on a motorbike at around 9.35am yesterday.
The whole astonishing incident was captured on camera by a freelance cameraman, Ben Jacobson, who was filming an NHS documentary outside All Saints Church.
The film shows members of the public wrestling one of the robbers, who fell as he tried to flee, and pinning him down until police arrived.
Mr Jacobsen said: “We were just in town filming some shots of Northampton for a video for Changing Minds, the NHS mental health organisation.
“The shop was behind me and when it happened I just went into cameraman mode.
“All I was thinking was getting it framed, getting it in focus, so when the police asked me later about what happened I had to look at the video to remember it. It was amazing, it was just one of those bizarre things.”
The robbers, who fled empty handed, left behind three sledgehammers, bolt cutters and a green moped with learner plates on, which had been driven by one of the robbers.
Manager of Michael Jones Jewellers, Luke Allebone, said: “I was inside at the time.
“We saw a chap come to the window, he had a motorcycle helmet on and he had a large hammer and he just started bashing away at the Rolex window. We could hear more of them hitting the windows so we put the shutters down and our security procedures started.”
Mr Allebone said staff had been shocked by the nature of the attack, but said he was pleased the shop’s security measures had worked. He added: “It was so quick there was very little time to do anything.
“But I am happy because it looks like we got what we wanted from the security. It is just annoying that we have to clear up the mess.”
Tributes have been paid to Ann from across the world throughout the day, with several calls for her bravery to be recognised.
Deputy Chief Constable Suzette Davenport said: “I have today met with Ann and, on behalf of the Force, thanked her for what she did.
“She demonstrated true community spirit in wanting to help others but we should acknowledge that this did involve a clear element of risk.”
Full astonishing video footage of the attempted robbery can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECTKt6f0IEo
Don’t miss Wednesday’s Chron for more on the story.
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Comments
There are 40 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
mccoop
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 07:32 PMIn the face of Danger,she Displayed courage and self sacrifice.All for the greater good of Humanity. MY Heroine! Good luck to you girl. And thankyou.x
suricate
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 12:15 PMIf this had been a man stopping these raiders with force he would most likely have been prosecuted ( like the man who took his theiving worker to the police station ) and in reality it is very lucky that the dear old lady hadnt` come face to face with your usual violent thugs or it could have been a totally different ending. The legal system is on the side of the criminal so a very brave but very foolish lady is lucky to be able to tell her story....
CAPITALCOPYCREW@aol.com
Friday, February 11, 2011 at 06:13 PMSEND IN SUPERGRAN Armed only with a 556 mm handbag and a personal mirror, no body armour SAS Knife or 9 mm Browning High Power handgun, retired Ann Timson waded into them. Well, just between you me and the gatepost, I wouldn’t want to get the wrong side of her. I’ve got a funny feeling that she’s still cross! Next time an SAS crew need to blast through the window so that they can obliterate the terrorists they should think of letting SUPERGRAN in to obliterate them with her famous handbag. F.A.B.A.R.M. has spoken.
super grans rule
Friday, February 11, 2011 at 05:37 PMWell done super gran shame there arent more like you out there far to many stand by and let things happen these days i just hope you get the rewardaward you deserve
TeddyMcnabb
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 06:56 PMcommander x-ray....YANK GO HOME! sort your own backyard out first, mr world policeman
TeddyMcnabb
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 06:56 PMcommander x-ray....YANK GO HOME! sort your own backyard out first, mr world policeman
Love Child
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 03:13 PMFOUR men accused of a £100,000 robbery at the Michael Jones jewellers in Northampton - which has attracted worldwide attention following the intervention of so-called Supergran Ann Timson - have been remanded in custody. Jason Hartles, aged 25, from Islington, Michael Sharpe, aged 39, from Hornsby, Patrick O’Brian, aged 18, from Islington, and Terry Ingles, aged 22, from Islington, all appeared at Northampton Magistrates Court accused of robbing the jewellers in Gold Street on Monday at about 9.30am. Commander X ray I rest my case unless you think that these are the their alases and they are Martians
Love Child
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 03:07 PMFOUR men accused of a £100,000 robbery at the Michael Jones jewellers in Northampton - which has attracted worldwide attention following the intervention of so-called Supergran Ann Timson - have been remanded in custody. Jason Hartles, aged 25, from Islington, Michael Sharpe, aged 39, from Hornsby, Patrick O’Brian, aged 18, from Islington, and Terry Ingles, aged 22, from Islington, all appeared at Northampton Magistrates Court accused of robbing the jewellers in Gold Street on Monday at about 9.30am. Commander X ray I rest my case unless you think that these are the their alases and they are Martians
Love Child
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 07:31 AMCommander Xray you are a repetitive paranoid bigot, you have already been judge jury and hangman, this is Britain, yes if they are the guilty ones then they should feel the full weight of our feeble legal system, but to already be speculating that the suspects are from this fictitious minority group (everybody seems to be in a minority group these days, I thought we were just human beings) and that there is a hidden agenda is foolish, perhaps you will look foolish when the true reasons come out, and look at the video as many times as you like they could be little men from Mars for all we know, I would suggest applauding our own Super Hero is better time spent than beeing so foolish and being so impatient with the ENTER key on your PC
Commander Xray
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 05:43 AMIt seems very strange that the suspect's names are not revealed in this or other news accounts from this crime. They readily reveal the ages of all the suspects caught; and the police are asking for the public's help in finding those who are still not identified. But why are the names of those caught withheld? Wouldn't gving those names tend to help find the suspects who are still on the loose? I suspect another agenda is being followed: Here in the USA, I have noticed that every time the suspect's names or races are withheld (whilst appealing for the public's help) it is usually because the suspects are from some visible minority that the news is seemingly shamed to name or identify. There seems to be a double-standard when it comes to naming and showing the photos of those from a non-minority background. Is it customary in your country to withhold the names of those caught on video in a crime? Or is there another agenda in that the news has not named those responsible for this crime?
Commander Xray
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 05:33 AMIt seems very strange that the suspect's names are not revealed in this or other news accounts from this crime. They readily reveal the ages of all the suspects caught; and the police are asking for the public's help in finding those who are still not identified. But why are the names of those caught withheld? Wouldn't gving those names tend to help find the suspects who are still on the loose? I suspect another agenda is being followed: Here in the USA, I have noticed that every time the suspect's names or races are withheld (whilst appealing for the public's help) it is usually because the suspects are from some visible minority that the news is seemingly shamed to name or identify. There seems to be a double-standard when it comes to naming and showing the photos of those from a non-minority background. Is it customary in your country to withhold the names of those caught on video in a crime? Or is there another agenda in that the news has not named those responsible for this crime?
SEMILONG.ORG
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 05:08 AMThe news archives are filled with stories about people that have stood up against anti-social louts, thugs and criminals...and come off the worse for it. In 2009 Peter Bryan challenged five anti-social louts in Higham Ferrers and was murdered in a hammer attack for his trouble. So SEMILONG.ORG would never say that people ought to wade in or should be criticised or publically shamed for not actively challenging criminal behaviour. Those doing so are showing a total disregard for people's safety. However, when someone acts to challenge criminal and loutish behaviour like `Northampton's Supergran` despite all the inherent risks it should not only be applauded but also rewarded. She stated that she intervened at first because she thought someone was being assaulted and then when it became clear to her that it was a robbery, it made her even more determined to stop it. A brilliant and very public spirited lady and SEMILONG.ORG takes our hats off to her. Why? Because if we are not careful, we are going to become a nation of `I`m all right Jacks`, a nation where we will not intervene or help others in our communities for fear of the consequences. So let's not berate those who do not intervene, but lets damn well thank, applaud and reward those that do, for its them that are protecting our local neighbourhoods and town centres for the rest of us.
Commander Xray
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 05:05 AMIt seems very strange that the suspect's names are not revealed in this or other news accounts from this crime. They readily reveal the ages of all the suspects caught; and the police are asking for the public's help in finding those who are still not identified. But why are the names of those caught withheld? Wouldn't gving those names tend to help find the suspects who are still on the loose? I suspect another agenda is being followed: Here in the USA, I have noticed that every time the suspect's names or races are withheld (whilst appealing for the public's help) it is usually because the suspects are from some visible minority that the news is seemingly shamed to name or identify. There seems to be a double-standard when it comes to naming and showing the photos of those from a non-minority background. Is it customary in your country to withhold the names of those caught on video in a crime? Or is there another agenda in that the news has not named those responsible for this crime?
Commander Xray
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 03:49 AMIt seems very strange that the suspect's names are not revealed in this or other news accounts from this crime. They readily reveal the ages of all the suspects caught; and the police are asking for the public's help in finding those who are still not identified. But why are the names of those caught withheld? Wouldn't gving those names tend to help find the suspects who are still on the loose? I suspect another agenda is being followed: Here in the USA, I have noticed that every time the suspect's names or races are withheld (whilst appealing for the public's help) it is usually because the suspects are from some visible minority that the news is seemingly shamed to name or identify. There seems to be a double-standard when it comes to naming and showing the photos of those from a non-minority background. Is it customary in your country to withhold the names of those caught on video in a crime? Or is there another agenda in that the news has not named those responsible for this crime?
Joseph in TN-USA
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 12:52 AMI was in AWE as the UK News was up on my local News Hour about how 1 super granny took out 6 thieves with her handbag. I am in Tennessee, USA and heard about her and I wish to send her my personal WELL DONE. She took action when others hesitated. We should have more like her in this world. I wish there was a way I could buy you a cup of tea or a beverage of your choice - you deserve it. Thank you!
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