Burglar trapped by widow jailed

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A burglar has been jailed for two years after being trapped by an 86-year-old woman who hit him with her crutch.

Merthyr Crown Court heard how Gwyneth Davies hit the intruder four times with her metal walking stick.

The widow told burglar Ian Munkley, 26, from Treharris, near Merthyr, not to move while she dialled 999. He admitted burglary.

The judge told the pensioner: "I'm full of admiration for the way you stood up for yourself that night".

Mrs Davies told Munkley: "You bloody stay on that stool and don't you move or you'll have my walking stick across you again.

"He was stunned and pretending to cry - it was better than going to the pictures."

I wish the government would bring in conscription for the army and make men of them Gwyneth Davies

Munkley was convicted of burglary at Mrs Davies' home at the village of Treharris.

Prosecutor Chris Lewis said: "When Mrs Davies opened her bedroom door she recognised the intruder - she was known to him from their village.

"She promptly hit him four times with her crutch. She feared for her life and she feared he would kill her."

The court heard Munkley had done odd jobs for elderly people in the village, including Mrs Davies.

His barrister Claire Wilks said: "He wishes to apologise to Mrs Davies."

Munkley was already on a community service order before his latest crime.

I'm not frightened of anything really - I always been able to take care of myself. Gwyneth Davies

Mrs Davies was in court to see Munkley being jailed on Friday. She was called over by Judge Eleri Rees, who told her: "You showed a great deal of bravery."

The judge also said the shock could have killed Mrs Davies.

The pensioner told the judge: "I wish the government would bring in conscription for the army and make men of them."

Earlier, she said: "He was right in front of me and he must have thought I would be no match for him.

"But I had my metal crutch with me and it turned into a very useful weapon.

"I lashed out at him with it and as he turned away from me I whacked him four times across the back.

Kitchen stool

"He was left bent over the work surface with his face buried in his hands. He didn't know what had hit him.

"He was whimpering and I told him to sit on the kitchen stool and not to move."

Mrs Davies, who had recently battled through broken ribs, a fractured hip and double pneumonia, dialled 999 and said she had caught a burglar.

"I stood over him wielding my metal crutch and threatening to give him another clout if he tried to escape.

"When the police arrived they couldn't believe what I'd done.

"They were all asking me if I was alright - I told them: "You're asking the wrong one!"

Mrs Davies, who was widowed 20 years ago, worked at London's Woolwich arsenal during World War II, handling landmines, fuses and detonators.

After the war she transferred to a munitions factory in Bridgend before becoming a care assistant in a residential home.

But she said her tough upbringing gave her the strength and courage to tackle the burglar.

She said: "I'm not frightened of anything really - I always been able to take care of myself.

"I was brought up with six brothers and put on the boxing gloves to spar with them. And I played darts and football."