Three women shoppers, armed only with handbags, made a citizens' arrest of a wanted criminal in Worcester city centre. One of them whacked him with her handbag as the other two barred his way.....
The three lady Christmas shoppers who made a fair cop
By JAMES TOZER
20th December 2006
Citizens' arrest: The three women wade in
After evading more than 20 police officers as he weaved through a busy city centre, the fugitive must have thought escape was within his grasp.
But just as he entered the final straight, dashing across a bridge, he met his match - in the form of three middle-aged women out Christmas shopping.
Determined to give the suspect's uniformed pursuers a chance, one barred his way, forcing him out into the road, while a second thwacked him with her bag and a third helped corner him until he could be captured. In the confusion that followed, all three women - who are not thought to have known each other - left, but police now want to contact them and thank them.
The drama unfolded in Worcester as the city centre was packed with Christmas shoppers.
Police spotted the suspect, 23-year-old Joshua Bough, who had been at large for three months accused of possessing an offensive weapon and assaulting three police officers, and gave chase.
With the help of CCTV operators, a total of 21 uniformed and plainclothes officers pursued him as he ducked and weaved through the shopping area for more than five minutes before bursting for freedom across the bridge over the River Severn.
It seemed he was getting away, but as he sprinted along the pavement a woman in a dark coat with a bag over her shoulder suddenly stepped in front of him, forcing him out into the road.
A second, well wrapped-up against the cold, then ran out and swung her bag of Christmas shopping at him, tussling with him while the third woman, wearing a light blue coat, dashed over to help.
She once again blocked the pavement and helped the second woman corner him.
In desperation he ran to the other side of the bridge where a van driver who had pulled over grabbed him until exhausted police officers could catch up and apprehend him.
Yesterday West Mercia Police praised the "courageous trio" and said its officers wanted to thank them all face-to-face.
"The three women did not know each other and were walking over the bridge some distance apart when they each realised, in the space of a few seconds, that a man was being pursued and was heading straight for them along the pavement," a spokesman said.
"They had very little time to make up their minds what to do and react. "Almost acting in unison, they each responded in exactly the same way - they tried to apprehend the man, not knowing whether he was armed or could have injured them.
"Although we have concerns for the consequences of their actions, we fully endorse them and applaud their courage.
"We very much hope they will see the still images from the CCTV footage and come forward to receive their due recognition and thanks. "If they are too modest to do that, we hope a friend or relative will persuade them to, or contact us themselves and give us their names."
The van driver has already been contacted and thanked.
A warrant for Bough's arrest had been issued in September after he failed to attend court.
dailymail.co.uk
The three lady Christmas shoppers who made a fair cop
By JAMES TOZER
20th December 2006
Citizens' arrest: The three women wade in
After evading more than 20 police officers as he weaved through a busy city centre, the fugitive must have thought escape was within his grasp.
But just as he entered the final straight, dashing across a bridge, he met his match - in the form of three middle-aged women out Christmas shopping.
Determined to give the suspect's uniformed pursuers a chance, one barred his way, forcing him out into the road, while a second thwacked him with her bag and a third helped corner him until he could be captured. In the confusion that followed, all three women - who are not thought to have known each other - left, but police now want to contact them and thank them.
The drama unfolded in Worcester as the city centre was packed with Christmas shoppers.
Police spotted the suspect, 23-year-old Joshua Bough, who had been at large for three months accused of possessing an offensive weapon and assaulting three police officers, and gave chase.
With the help of CCTV operators, a total of 21 uniformed and plainclothes officers pursued him as he ducked and weaved through the shopping area for more than five minutes before bursting for freedom across the bridge over the River Severn.
It seemed he was getting away, but as he sprinted along the pavement a woman in a dark coat with a bag over her shoulder suddenly stepped in front of him, forcing him out into the road.
A second, well wrapped-up against the cold, then ran out and swung her bag of Christmas shopping at him, tussling with him while the third woman, wearing a light blue coat, dashed over to help.
She once again blocked the pavement and helped the second woman corner him.
In desperation he ran to the other side of the bridge where a van driver who had pulled over grabbed him until exhausted police officers could catch up and apprehend him.
Yesterday West Mercia Police praised the "courageous trio" and said its officers wanted to thank them all face-to-face.
"The three women did not know each other and were walking over the bridge some distance apart when they each realised, in the space of a few seconds, that a man was being pursued and was heading straight for them along the pavement," a spokesman said.
"They had very little time to make up their minds what to do and react. "Almost acting in unison, they each responded in exactly the same way - they tried to apprehend the man, not knowing whether he was armed or could have injured them.
"Although we have concerns for the consequences of their actions, we fully endorse them and applaud their courage.
"We very much hope they will see the still images from the CCTV footage and come forward to receive their due recognition and thanks. "If they are too modest to do that, we hope a friend or relative will persuade them to, or contact us themselves and give us their names."
The van driver has already been contacted and thanked.
A warrant for Bough's arrest had been issued in September after he failed to attend court.
dailymail.co.uk
