Labourer, 27, hailed a ‘hero’ for ‘lamping’ a mugger who robbed a pensioner

A labourer has told how he ‘lamped’ a mugger who’d robbed an 86-year-old woman leaving her lying on the pavement with a head injury and bruising.

Danny Neilson, 27, from Boothferry Estate, in Hull was cycling along Ferensway, on his way back from McDonalds when he saw the robbery in Hull city centre and the mugger leaving the scene.

Mr Neilson, who was hailed a hero on social media after CCTV footage was released showing his actions, said there were ‘at least 100 people’ who stood by and did nothing. 

‘There was so many people about, I was quite far away but I just chucked my bike on the floor and lamped him one,’ Mr Neilson said. Video taken in May (shown above) and released by the Crown Prosecution Service shows David Loftey, 26, crossing a road near Ferensway in Hull city centre after attacking the pensioner

Labourer Danny Neilson, 27, from Boothferry Estate, in Hull was cycling along Ferensway, on his way back from McDonalds when he saw the robbery in Hull city centre and the mugger leaving the scene

Mr Neilson (pictured above) said: 'I wouldn't say I am a hero but I'd just seen it happen, I thought 'I can't stand here and watch it happen', he just like grabbed her above her head.

Labourer Danny Neilson, 27, from Boothferry Estate, in Hull was cycling along Ferensway, on his way back from McDonalds when he saw the robbery in Hull city centre and the mugger leaving the scene

Video taken in May and released by the Crown Prosecution Service shows David Loftey, 26, crossing a road near Ferensway in Hull city centre after attacking the pensioner. 

His victim had been travelling home from her daily trip to Mecca bingo when Loftey tried to grab her handbag 

‘There was so many people about, I was quite far away but I just chucked my bike on the floor and lamped him one,’ Mr Neilson said. 

‘I was only going to McDonald’s for chicken nuggets and on the way back home I just seen it happen. There was an old woman on the floor, so I ran across,’ he said. 

The woman had hit her head on the pavement and Mr Neilson said he put his jacket around the victim and rang for an ambulance before he got the attention of two passing PCSOs.  

The elderly victim, who has arthritis and a hip replacement, had a ‘lump’ to the top of her head and bruising to her right shoulder and hip after the attack.

She was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where she spent three hours being treated and observed. 

Mr Neilson said: ‘I wouldn’t say I am a hero but I’d just seen it happen, I thought ‘I can’t stand here and watch it happen’, he just like grabbed her above her head.   

‘I’d do it for anyone, how can you sleep at night doing things like that?’ Mr Neilson added.

David Loftey (pictured) from Spring Bank in Hull, was jailed for three years and four months for the attack

David Loftey (pictured) from Spring Bank in Hull, was jailed for three years and four months for the attack

Mr Neilson moved the robber, who he said he’d knocked out cold, to the side of the road so he didn’t get run over by a bus and then turned his attention straight back to the pensioner.   

‘I’d got the bag off him, because at first he grabbed the bag but I grabbed him and gave the woman the bag, then decked him,’ Mr Neilson said.   

‘I’m so happy that she’s alright. I don’t need a thank you, I’ve just got a good heart and wouldn’t see that happen to anyone,’ he added. 

David Loftey from Spring Bank in Hull, was jailed for three years and four months for the attack. 

Originally he’d told police he had ‘been working’ at the time of the attack and denied any involvement until he was shown CCTV footage and eventually confessed.

He admitted attempted robbery and breaching a community order, which was imposed by magistrates in April for two office burglaries and a theft.   

Sentencing Loftey, Judge Paul Watson QC, Honorary Recorder of Hull and East Riding said: ‘You are 26 years of age now, [with] a long record going back a long way. 

‘Most recently, in the early part of this year, you appeared before the magistrates’ court for a number of offences, including burglary, albeit not of other people’s homes, and theft. You were made the subject of a community order. 

‘Within less than two weeks you committed this appalling and cowardly crime of attempted robbery on a lady in her 80s who was just on her way back from the bingo. It was obvious to you she was vulnerable,’ the judge added.

 

 

 

 

  

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