Swordswoman, 80, fights burglars


Widow Jean Freke who fought off burglars wilth a ceremonial sword
An 80-year-old woman used a ceremonial sword to fight off two six-foot raiders who burst into her home.
Angina sufferer Jean Freke grabbed the sword from the wall in her drawing-room after she was pushed to the ground.

The widow wrestled with one of the burglars and brandished the weapon at the other.

Her actions forced the pair of teenagers to flee empty-handed from her home in Dunyeats Road, Broadstone, Poole, Dorset on Sunday.

I have still got my sword and I am ready to use it if anyone else should have a go

Widow Jean Freke


Mrs Freke, who sustained bruising to her arm during the incident, is currently having her angina condition monitored at Poole Hospital.

The sword was a pre-World War I army officer's dress sword which belonged to Mrs Freke's late husband's father.

Loud explosions

She said: "I was sitting in the drawing-room when I heard some loud explosions.

"I walked out into the hall to look around and these two men who had been trying to knock down my mahogany door had knocked-out the door frame."

One of the teenagers ransacked the room, while Mrs Freke struggled with the other.

"They were big men and I am not big at all.

"I was trying to keep them away from a chair in the far corner of the room - behind the cushion was my bag, check book and all my money," she said.

"I pointed the sword at the stomach of one them and shouted 'Get out, get out'.

" I have still got my sword and I am ready to use it if anyone else should have a go."

The raiders were white, aged 18 to 20, six feet tall and wearing dark clothing.

Detective Inspector Garry Smith said: "The attack on Mrs Freke was despicable and cowardly with a vulnerable widow being targeted in her own home.

"We are absolutely disgusted with what has occurred. Jean fought back and fought them off with her sword and I take my hat off to her."

The attack on Mrs Freke follows a series of burglaries where elderly householders have been targeted.


Intersesting to see the copper praising her courage. Normally they come out some crap like "We dont advise the public to take things into their own hands" type of thing.

She should have cut his nuts off with it, barstewards!!!!!!!

Sad to say this sort of things on the increase...

Somebody remind me why I live in this pleasant area...??? This happened last year less than a mile away. Little b*stards need a good kicking.

http://www.thisisdorset.net/dorset/a..._NEWS08ZM.html

Ooops, edit for clicky ;)

[Edited by Cupramax - 11/26/2003 3:53:49 PM]

Clicky


Oooops. Edited for Clicky no longer needed!

[Edited by dr_ming - 11/26/2003 3:54:47 PM]

lol :)

Good for her taking this on but a few points... :

Identification of the sword, in case anyone's looking for one... :

The sword was a pre-World War I army officer's dress sword which belonged to Mrs Freke's late husband's father.

Location of her cash, in case they come back :

"I was trying to keep them away from a chair in the far corner of the room - behind the cushion was my bag, check book and all my money," she said.


Same thing happened when someone across the road's house caught fire. The paper happily brandished the fact that firefighters had to get all the binbags containing the occupant's cash out of the loft space and that the occupant was now living in a caravan in his garden until his house can be re-built. Which was nice of them. Fortunately the paper then printed an addition the next week stating that all this cash has now been banked. :rolleyes:

[Edited by Mice_Elf - 11/26/2003 4:08:45 PM]

Expect the burglars will soon be seeking counselling for the stress of being threatened with a sword, and suing for punitive damages ...

Well done for her.

A good while ago, old people were off limits, so to speak, for criminals. Now anyone is fair game. Makes me sick.

ohhh yeah thats right we praise her cause they ran off and she defended her castle, presuming she stabbed 1 shed be in prision right now :(

Bit different to the situation with a mate of mine.

He tackled an armed robber in Salisbury. The robber had an axe and was swinging it at a jewellers window. He had leather gauntlets to avoid cutting his arms, so had either done it before or thoroughly thought the job out. My mate tackled him, wrestled him to the ground and, with two other people that joined in, sat on him until the police came.

The police arrested the robber and cautioned my mate for assault!!!

My mate got a parking ticket as it was four hours by the time the police came and taken a statement. Salisbury council refused to cancel the parking ticket!!!

Worse still, they'd probably get it as well.

Chip.

f**king typical [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img] how does this sh1t still fly?

pity the old dear didn't cut one of the barstewards up, perhaps the long arm of the law wouldn't even go after an 80 year old widow.

He then went on to say: "Now we know people will defend their own property, we can divert even more officers, time, and money into scamming motorists................errrr, sorry, ..I mean catching evil criminals who break the speed limit we set knowing they would do so............errr, I mean breaking the national speed limits, which causes ALL accidents, as you are aware!".

:D:D:D:D:D:D:

Alcazar

Interestingly I just got this in my inbox:

http://www.darcy.mailbox.co.uk/be_ni...ers/police.jpg