Three times a hero

Newsagent Stewart Evans has been assaulted in his shop 3 times in two years.

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A DISABLED newsagent who fought off armed robbers for the third time has vowed he will not let them force him out of business.

Stewart Evans, who has run F and SG Evans in Grimshaw Lane, close to Middleton Junction, for the past 32 years has called for more police presence to control thugs in the area.

In the latest incident two chain-wielding thugs burst into the shop just as Mr Evans was sorting the morning papers.

But there was no messing around as the have-a-go-hero laughed in the face of danger and beat them off with a wooden bat.

CCTV images show the crooks being confronted by the brave 57-year-old, who has crippling arthritis, around 6.25am on Saturday, November 15.

Mr Evans, of Royton, said: “When they came in I got hold of my bat and swiped them.

“I was ready for them and they can’t scare me, nor will they force me to close my shop. This is my livelihood.

“I don’t think they are the same raiders but it is getting beyond a joke. “We need more police presence in the area. Something needs to be done about it.

“A couple getting out of a taxi saw the yobs running out of the shop and called the police.”

Luckily, Mr Evans only suffered slight injuries, but caught one of the raiders with two blows to the head. The masked men fled empty-handed.

One of them is described as 6ft tall, of large build and wearing a black jacket and a balaclava.

The second man was thin and wore a grey hooded top and a black hat.

Mr Evans’s shop was previously targeted in March, 2006, when he fought off a gang of masked yobs wielding samurai swords.

Five months later, he and his pensioner mother Florence Evans battled thugs brandishing a knife and a metal bar.

Det Insp Daryl Chadwick from Rochdale CID said: “Inquiries into this incident are very much ongoing. I will also be ensuring that the victim is offered a home-link alarm to provide reassurance that he has a direct line to his local police station, should he feel threatened again.

“Extra patrols will be in the area to reassure the community and victim.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 4644 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.