A have-a-go-hero pensioner told yesterday how he fended off two knife-wielding burglars who threatened to stab his wife after breaking into his home – with a CHAIR.
Retired postman John Ives, 78, rushed to defend wife June, 77, after two men wearing black ski masks burst into their home as they watched Emmerdale on Friday night.
One of the burglars held an eight-inch knife to terrified June’s chest while the other villain told her to stop screaming or she would ”get hurt”.
Courageous John immediately ran to his wife’s aid and yanked the knife away before the cowardly thug threw him across the room.
But plucky John collected himself and grabbed a 40lb solid oak chair from the dinner table and used it to force the two burglars out of the front door like ”a lion tamer would control wild beasts”.
Great-grandfather-of-one John, who served with the Royal Engineers when he was 18 and now lives in Haverhill, Suffolk, revealed he acted on instinct.
He said: ”I looked up and there were a couple of blokes dressed in black and wearing ski masks at the door. I thought ‘It’s not Halloween yet’.
”One of them was holding a knife to June’s chest so I rushed over and grabbed his arm away but he pulled me back across the room.
”Being the brave fellow that I am, I couldn’t get to my walking stick, so I picked up the chair from the dining room table and went at them.
”It’s very heavy but that didn’t register at the time. Suddenly they changed their minds and ran off into the night.
”I wasn’t scared at the time but five minutes later we were both terrified. At the time, I didn’t even think about it. I just grabbed the chair.
”All you hear nowadays is ‘lock your doors’ but we never have done. Since the attack we have kept them locked. You’re not safe in your own home now.”
The two burglars barged through the front door of the Ives’ terraced house in Haverhill, Suffolk, as they watched Emmerdale at 7.15pm on Friday night.
June began screaming after one of the men placed the point of an eight-inch knife onto her chest as he stood behind her at the entrance to the living room.
But retired postie John, who has an artificial knee and walks with a stick, grabbed the knifeman’s hand and then used a chair to force them out of the front door.
He received minor cuts and bruises to his top lip in the struggle while June escaped unharmed.
The burglars did not make off with any valuables although one of the men stole the handset of the Ives’ home telephone.
Anyone with information should call 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Talking of knife-wielding maniacs, a shopkeeper shot this crazed attacker after he was stabbed in his store – and it was all caught on video.
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Remember, most old people saved the world from the Third Reich when they were teenagers. They can handle themselves.
This fellow was only 12 years old in 1944 – he did not fight in WW II.
COuld have been in Korea or Vietnam.
Probably not Vietnam.
Certainly not as a soldier, but even the young’uns did what they had to do:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/52/a2077652.shtml
Remember, This happened in the UK. He’s lucky he didn’t get arrested for assulting the crimminals!!