Great gran, 72, wins street fight against Doncaster man after he tries to flog her stolen bike

This is the moment a tiny great-gran wrestled with a six-foot-tall thug who came into an antiques shop and tried to sell her a stolen £1,200 bike for £150.
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Supergran Mari Parker, 72, knew the bike had been stolen having read about its theft on Facebook and refused to let the thief leave the store with it.

However, the un-named male in his 20s returned half an hour later and tried to take the bike back by force.

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CCTV footage shows five foot three inches tall Mari in a minute long tug-of-war with the thug outside the shop as she hung on to the bike frame for dear life.

Great-gran Mari Parker, 72, tackled a thug who tried to take back a stolen bike from her shop. (Photo: SWNS).Great-gran Mari Parker, 72, tackled a thug who tried to take back a stolen bike from her shop. (Photo: SWNS).
Great-gran Mari Parker, 72, tackled a thug who tried to take back a stolen bike from her shop. (Photo: SWNS).

The hooded thief can been seen violently pulling at the bike and even trying to mount it to cycle away but his efforts were thwarted by the determined OAP.

He eventually fled empty-handed and the designer mountain bike was later reunited with its rightful owner.

Gran of eight Mari said: "I'm sure he must be a bit embarrassed now that he was beaten by a 72-year-old woman."

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The incident happened on a Sunday morning at Mari's son, Daniel's, antique shop, Barnsley Antiques Centre, where she helps out part-time.

The man had come into the shop asking if they wanted to buy the bike for £150.

"He had hold of one side of the bike and I had hold of the other and we were then in this tug-of-war.

"He pulled me outside and we were fighting in the street.

"A couple of customers came out to help but I was worried about what would happen with them so I told them to leave it to me and that they should call the police.

"But I refused to let go.

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And now the bike has been re-united with its 13-year-old owner, Luke Hodson, much to everybody's delight.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed: "A 23-year-old Doncaster man was arrested in connection to this matter and interviewed by officers.

"The bike was returned to its rightful owner, who did not wish to pursue a prosecution."

The incident happened in October last year.

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