Tuesday - March 31, 2009

Five-foot female fitness fanatic pins knife-wielding attacker to a wall. And she’s 50 too btw.

Man you do not wanna mess with this little lady.  And 5’ is little.
There is a rather grainy photo online at the link shows her and the gremlin.

Good story and bravo her.  Took some guts.

Five-foot female fitness fanatic pins knife-wielding attacker to a wall

By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 2:23 PM on 31st March 2009

When she saw a knifeman repeatedly stab a man in the face and neck before leaving him for dead in the street, Georgina Harmer was appalled.

But without a thought for her own safety, the feisty 50-year-old gave chase and grabbed hold of the thug.

Then she got him in a headlock, pinned him against a wall and valiantly held on for 10 long minutes until police arrived and arrested him.

Georgina Harmer pinning knife-wielding attacker Wesley Ogden to a wall. The 50-year-old held him there for 10 minutes until police arrived

Yesterday she was praised for her bravery as knifeman Wesley Ogden, 28, was jailed for the horrific attack.

The incident happened last August when Miss Harmer, a customer service advisor for O2, was enjoying a night out with friends Alan Keown, 48, and his girlfriend Pamela Nabb, 40.

The group went outside The Clarence pub in Bury, Greater Manchester for a cigarette where they were confronted by Ogden who had been earlier thrown out of the pub causing trouble.

He made a sexual remark towards Miss Nabb, prompting a verbal dispute with her boyfriend that turned into a scuffle.

Ogden then produced a knife and started to repeatedly stab Mr Keown in the face and body in a frenzied assault.
Wesley Ogden

Wesley Ogden repeatedly stabbed Miss Harmer’s friend in the face and neck

As 6ft 2in Ogden ran off down the road, Miss Harmer - who is just 5ft 4in tall and weighs eight stone - gave chase and tackled him outside a bank before pinning him to the wall in a headlock.

CCTV pictures from cameras located at the HSBC bank dramatically capture the bravery of her citizen’s arrest.

As she desperately clung on to Ogden, a doorman from a nearby pub came over and helped her restrain him until police arrived.

Last night she said: ‘I think I was just running on adrenaline.  It didn’t take me long to catch him. I pinned him against the wall, put him in a headlock.

‘It’s fair to say I applied pressure between his groin - that’s the polite way of putting it - and restrained him and he was wincing in agony.

‘He was denying that it was him that had done it, but I was saying “It’s you”. I struggled with him - but I wouldn’t let go of him until I knew the police had him.’

Miss Harmer, a former pub landlady from Radcliffe, said: ‘There wasn’t a lot going through my mind really, I just didn’t want him to get away - I wanted to go back and make sure Alan was alright. It was really serious, I think a few people thought it would be fatal - there was so much blood.

‘I do keep myself fit, I run an under-18s rounders team and I go power walking twice a week. I used to weight-lifting a long time ago, but I’m too old for that now. I’m very active although I don’t have a regime as such - but I think it did help.’

Mr Keown was rushed to hospital where he was treated for four serious wounds to his face and body, but his injuries were not life-threatening and he recovered.

Ogden of Oldham, was convicted of wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm and assault following a trial at Bolton Crown Court and was told he must serve at least three-and-a-half years behind bars.

Ogden, pleaded not guilty, despite the number of witnesses who saw the assault.

Detective Inspector Sarah Jackson, of Bury CID, said: ‘Ogden is an extremely violent and dangerous man who had the temerity to plead not guilty despite the numerous witnesses who saw this savage assault.

‘He belongs behind bars and I am glad that is where he will now be spending his foreseeable future.

‘While what the victim’s friends did was undoubtedly risky, I would like to praise their bravery. In particular, the woman who put her own safety at risk and chased Ogden through the town centre, detaining a very strong and dangerous man, was incredibly courageous and her selfless actions have helped put a violent man behind bars.’

Miss Harmer, who says a policewoman friend once gave her a few self defence tips, said: ‘I’m very pleased with the sentence - I hope this will be a deterrent to people carrying knives and give confidence to witness who have doubts about coming forward. They shouldn’t be scared.

‘If this guy wasn’t taken off the streets he probably would have done it again and it could have been a murder.’

PHOTOS HERE

Posted by peiper     on 03/31/2009 at 10:05 AM   
Filed Under: • Crime • Daily Life • Self-Defense • UK •  
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