‘There was no way he was getting away with it’

MAKING the headlines . . . Claire catches up with the Chronicle yesterday

Brave Claire on bag-snatch ordeal

A FITNESS fanatic has revealed how she had just done a gruelling two-hour session of ab crunches and fitness training before wrestling a would-be robber to the ground as he tried to steal her bag.

As reported in the Chronicle yesterday, Tesco worker and self-confessed gym addict Claire Markwick (25) was walking home via Brook Street, Chadderton, near Asda, when a stocky thug ran up behind her and snatched her bag.

But the thug wasn’t getting away that easily.

Brave Claire, of Chadderton, said: “The bag only had my Tesco uniform in so it was a pointless exercise, but it was an endurance trying to catch him.”

Claire swung into action, wrestling the attacker into the road, tearing his T-shirt to shreds.

She added: “I could hear someone approaching so I stepped aside to let them past, that’s when I felt him tug the bag.

“I was just stunned, but the adrenalin kicked in and there was no way he was getting away with it, it was like it wasn’t real.

Claire sprinted after him, screaming and shouting before leaping into the air and snaring the bag-snatcher.

She said: “I don’t think he knew what had hit him. I’m only 5ft 5in so I think he was expecting me to not put up a fight, but I’m glad I did.

“It is so ironic, I’d not taken my usual route home thinking it would be safer.”

The former model was knocked to the ground, suffering a sprained ankle, but managed to flag down a passing car as the robber made a second escape attempt.

The driver then leapt from his car and finally yanked the bag from the thug who fled the scene.

Claire said: “It has unnerved me, I’m not going out alone at the moment but I’m trying to overcome that.

Police are still hunting the man, described as Asian and in his late 20s to early 30s after the attack at about 8.30pm on October 12.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161-856 9042 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.