Have-a-go Doreen tussles with van

Reporter: Robbie Gill
Date published: 26 June 2015


A PLUCKY pensioner was run over by a burglar’s getaway car after confronting him in the kitchen and giving chase in her dressing gown.

Have-a-go-hero Doreen Pountley (67) was making her husband David (64) a sandwich just before 7am on Wednesday when she noticed the intruder.

Without thinking brave Doreen confronted the man - who jumped out of the Lea Court, Failsworth house through an open window and got into a white Citroen Berlingo van outside.

David heard the noise and went after him with his wife. Doreen chased the man and grabbed the van’s wing mirrors and windscreen wipers. But as the burglar sped off, the van knocked Doreen to the ground and injured her arm.

She said: “I went straight after him. I wanted to get hold of him. I was trying to bend the mirror back and get hold of his wipers to stop him but he just swung round the corner and threw me off.

“He went over my arm. I was lucky it wasn’t my head.”

Doreen was taken to hospital and is recovering from her ordeal with her arm in a sling.

Former security manager David said: “I thought she was shouting at the dog at first. Then I realised there was a bloke in the house. I saw her grabbing the van then falling off. I thought it was going to take her head off. He needs to be caught. He’s dangerous.”

Police this morning arrested a 38-year-old man in connection with the incident.